What is the HOPE not hate Charitable Trust Education Unit?

The HOPE not hate Education Unit (HNHEU) was piloted in 2016 and launched full time in January 2017.

Since then we have seen exponential growth in the demand for our programmes in schools.

The content we deliver in schools draws inspiration from the origins of the Unit in the community organising arm of the charity. Our aim is not just to educate students on racism, but to be a catalyst towards positive behavioural change in schools across England and Wales, which can act as a springboard towards a more inclusive society. The Sign up here aim of the Unit is to enable students to have a holistic understanding of how discrimination works, both in manifestation and in its continuation, and to challenge them on how they can play a role in breaking it.

As well as delivering one-off workshops, we run the HOPE not hate Ambassadors Scheme, a four week programme for Key Stage 3 students, exploring how inequality, power and prejudicial language all feed into discrimination.

Pedagogy

Each workshop aims to provoke an emotional response from the class, through either storytelling or a form of activity (normally rigged so that the class can experience the feeling of injustice before discussing it).

The bulk of our pedagogy comes from the Pyramid of Hate, which emphasis the need to tackle the mildest forms of problematic behaviour, often language, to prevent students from going on to develop/ingrain prejudices and discriminatory deeds. All the workshops challenge the students on what prejudices they already hold, how they might be unwittingly enacting on these, the negative consequences of this and for them to aim to change their ways.

For the more able students, or those we are afforded more time with, we introduce how power plays out in maintaining discrimination. In the workshops we look at the idea of power with collective power. This is of most interest to us in terms of someone being part of the substantial majority, and how that can empower them over those who are not, which can form what some would describe as privilege. On top of all this we feed in inequality.

Why do those at the bottom of society stay there? Why are insults directed at some social groups discriminatory and others not? By the end of a HNHEU workshop, these are the questions that the students would be able to form answers to, and then go away and challenge the status quo.

Geographical targeting

As with all charities, HNHEU operates on a finite budget and aims to maximise the potential of our work through targeting areas of the county where we are likely to have the greatest impact.

Using the data from the Fear & HOPE Report 2017 the Unit primarily offers our services to those schools whose catchment areas coincide with super output areas identified in the report as having a significant proportion of the population as either culturally concerned or latent hostiles. These areas are predominantly found along the East and South coasts and towards the North of England.

Here are quotes from some of the schools we have worked with:

The content was very relatable to all students and managed to challenge their more controversial views without antagonising or judging them.

Causeway School (Sussex)

Our sessions involved activities to build upon our teamwork, communication and business skills, whilst also teaching us about inequality and what it feels like to have no choice or say. It has inspired me to really value what we have.

Year 9 pupil, Forest Hall School (Essex)

HOPE not hate has really helped with compassion, and respect, and it has also helped with the children discipline and their respect for each other and for the adults within the school and outside of the school community.

St Osyth Primary (Essex)

Relevant and very up-to-date content in the delivery. Some of the content allowed for deep discussion with the students.

Carrie Gibbs, King Harold Academy (London)

Real life comparisons and scenarios discussed – this makes it much more relevant to the students

Pakefield High School (Suffolk)