Our
programme aims to address problems of social
exclusion, which can lead to increasing levels
of intolerance, discrimination, bullying, and
violent crimes including knifings and gun crime
in our schools and on our streets. The main
objective of the programme is to improve
community relations, promote cohesion and offer
a positive alternative to violence. The overall
aim is to strengthen and consolidate a shared
sense of belonging and community cohesion by
bringing together youth from different races,
cultures, socio-cultural backgrounds and diverse
persuasions. We will achieve this by supporting
the youth in changing their attitudes and
values, addressing issues of social intolerance
and religious extremism, and promoting respect
for the diversity of cultures, ethnic groups and
nationalities. Social exclusion can also occur
when young people feel alienated and polarised
due to ethnic and /or religious tensions. These
vulnerable young people need a rational
counterbalance to help them withstand the
influence of extremist groups, who actively
recruit disenfranchised young people to support
their cause.
Methodology
Under
the leadership of the Programme Coordinator, a
team of volunteers specialising in multicultural
and multidisciplinary techniques, will work in
close partnership with appropriately religious,
educational and community-based agencies. We
welcome sensitive partnerships with the
police.
The
programme is delivered through workshops. Using
scenarios presenting discriminatory behaviour as
initial stimuli, staff will act as facilitators,
guiding the students through focused activities,
allowing for exploration of prejudice,
discrimination and tolerance, and their results
on individuals. Diversity will be explored and
the audience will be given the opportunity to
analyse good practice.
The
learning objectives of the vocational
educational programme
"Embracing
Tolerance":
·Understanding
inequalities
·Respecting
diversities
·Understanding
different communities
·Developing
knowledge of various
faiths
·Learning
to be tolerant
Areas
of potential conflict should be examined
with a view to offering viable and tolerant
alternatives. Staff will provide information
regarding the cultures of
others.
(1)Case-study
led discussion
·
Examining
an incident of intolerance or discrimination
(for example, of a person or group because of
their religious beliefs).
·
Imagining
in some detail what might be involved for all
the participants (perpetrator, bystander and
victim).
·
Encouraging
participation through the discussion of personal
experience,
·
Neutrality
will be maintained throughout the session,
avoiding any moral comment with the aim of
understanding the views and opinions of the
participants.
(2)
Examination of images.
•
Observing images of a variety of people; some
represented in the public eye, others unknown to
the public.
•
Brainstorming of associations with that image,
to examine prejudices and stimulate discussion
amongst participants.
•
Discussion of different outcomes, including how
stereotypical attitudes portrayed by the media
and other sources can influence personal
judgements.
(3)
Cross-over role-play.
•
Participants asked to present a situation where
some form of intolerance or discrimination can
be portrayed (ranging from simple neighbourly or
school based disputes to issues concerning
racial or religious intolerance or
discrimination).
•
Participants asked to take on the roles of those
involved, by producing dialogue and acting out
scenes, with
the goal of finding a positive outcome to
overcome discrimination.
•
Done in a cross-over way, so that participants
play a non-familiar role. Here moralising,
natural comment would be allowed, especially
those taken from the perspective of a
non-familiar role (i.e., white/non-white,
Muslim/Christian, male/female, etc.)
Workshops
will last over 1 – 3 sessions depending upon the
audience. We are working towards having our
workshops accredited for vocational and
educational purposes; as such we seek to have
the programme accredited as a Vocationally
Recognised Qualification with a view to
extending the wider benefits. In association
with local schools we are applying our programme
to the principles of ASDAN and Citizenship, as
required by curriculum standards. We are already
working in schools in the London boroughs of
Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Enfield and Merton. Our
staff will also take on additional service user
support roles such as advocacy and sign-posting
to other appropriate support agencies where
specific needs are identified.
Monitoring
and Evaluation
There
will be regular monitoring and evaluation of the
programme. Participatory monitoring and
evaluation with the beneficiaries will be used
to adjust the programme to be more in line with
the expectations of the target audience. The
programme outcomes will be measured by
monitoring:
·
attendance
·
number
of courses
·
feedback
forms or questionnaires
·
successful
attainment of points
·
feedback
from religious leaders
·
six
month review
Budget
to implement Embracing Tolerance Vocational
Education Programme per school with, 120
students in 4 classes in one year group, 3
workshops for groups of 15-30 students:
|
Expense
|
Cost
(£)
|
|
Programme
Manager coordination
|
1195
|
|
Volunteer
Coordinator
|
797
|
|
Volunteer
and Staff Travel
|
672
|
|
Volunteer
Recruitment
|
179
|
|
Enhanced
CRB checks
|
115
|
|
Volunteer
Training
|
120
|
|
Project
communication
and
correspondence
|
211
|
|
Workshop
materials
|
277
|
|
Total
|
3,566
|
