Challenging Sectarianism Across Generationsadmin2016-04-27T15:50:04+00:00
This project is now in its second phase of delivery and will build on learning from our recently completed project phase (which ran from June 2013 to March 2015). This initial phase aimed to challenge intra-Christian sectarian attitudes and behaviours arising from situations in the West of Scotland through: workshops with schools and youth groups, a social research project report and community theatre production.
Main Aims of Project
Enhance the knowledge and ability of young people to challenge the negative influences that prejudice in all forms has on communities. We deliver a series of workshops designed for 8-16 year olds in schools and youth groups: sectarianism, Islamophobia, the roots of prejudice and discrimination, hate crime, human rights and global citizenship.
Ensure teachers, youth workers and community workers have increased skills and confidence to effectively deliver anti-sectarian/hate behaviour work in schools and community settings. This is through the provision of Youth and Community Practitioner Training covering sectarianism, Islamophobia, the roots of prejudice and discrimination, hate crime, human rights and global citizenship.
Facilitate space for disparate communities to work together to instigate community dialogue and form a community-led network. This will be achieved through a training course made available for free to individuals from diverse communities across the West of Scotland.
Young People, Older People, Wider Community within the West of Scotland
Since beginning work in July 2013 we have been delivering workshops in schools across the West of Scotland using unique resources created specifically for the project. We have delivered these workshops to over 700 young people in Glasgow, South Lanarkshire, Argyle and Bute, Renfrewshire and North Lanarkshire. We have developed a resource pack and DVD which are available for free to anyone wishing to use them here. We have also published a piece of social research produced by freelance researcher Heather Lynch. Her insights came from a number of interviews within the West of Scotland, with an age range of 6-70 years old. This in turn produced the final outcome of the project which was a community theatre production, called Cocktail which was a musical production. The script and songs were based on the findings of the research.
The second project phase, which ran to March 2016, aimed to deliver a year long programme of activities with a strong focus on sharing good practice, facilitating dialogue and building a sustainable legacy for the work. From April 2015 – March 2016, we ran workshops to challenge sectarianism and wider hate crime with young people in schools and youth groups in Glasgow, South Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, and Argyle and Bute. We also delivered a community gardening project to bring minority Christian traditions and others together to help tackle poverty in Maryhill. Finally, we commissioned a youth media and journalism initiative in Maryhill in partnership with local social enterprise Open Aye Participatory Photography. A book was created through this project which is available to download free here.