Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Sadiq Khan refers to the GAME ON project at the Hate Crime Showcase at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). Julia Barton, Dominic Meir and Robert Marsden showcased GAME ON at the event at the invitation of the DCLG on Thursday 30th April 2009.

Draft text of the speech - may differ from the delivered version.

Walking into the Atrium this evening I was amazed at how space can be transformed in to something innovative and creative. I'm quite sure that after tonight's hate crime showcase - CLG will never be the same.

Firstly I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for attending this event which showcases some of the ground breaking  hate crime prevention projects my department has funded over the last 18 months.

Earlier this evening, I met some of the young people you will see performing and visited some of the stands dotted around the atrium. I was very impressed with the high standard of projects and in particular the dedication of the young people who have agreed to share some of their experiences of hate crime through, rap, dance, drama , poetry and film with us.

I cannot over emphasise the importance of focusing on young people, as research indicates young people are both the main victims and perpetrators of hate crime.

Every year, thousands of young people are victims of hate crimes. Each one of these crimes has a ripple effect in our communities. The pain and injustice of such crimes tear at the fabric of our democratic society, creating fear and tensions that ultimately affect us all.

Schools are not immune from such intolerance and violence. Teenagers and young adults account for a significant proportion of the country's hate crimes both as perpetrators and as victims. Hate-motivated behaviour, whether in the form of ethnic conflict, harassment, intimidation, or graffiti, is often apparent on school grounds and in the wider community.

The good news is that young people are not born with such attitudes; they are learned. It is possible for schools, families, the criminal justice system, and communities to work together to prevent the development of these prejudiced attitudes which can lead to hate incidents and crimes.

Prejudice and the resulting violence can be reduced or even eliminated by instilling in young people an appreciation and respect for each other's differences, and by helping them to develop empathy, conflict resolution, and critical thinking skills. By teaching young people that even subtle forms of hate are inherently wrong, we can hope to prevent more extreme acts of hate in the future.

Many of the projects on view this evening are about bringing young people together from different backgrounds. Game On for example brings together young people from different backgrounds across Stoke-on-Trent through theatre and sport.

The unique approach adopted by the Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre again highlights the importance of getting young people together to talk through their experiences of hate crime.

This evening's programme is testament to the importance of looking at different mediums to encourage young people to get involved in the fight against hatred.

I'm quite sure that once you have heard the 'hate crime rap' you will be insisting on signed copies.

I believe we all have a duty to create a climate where hateful acts are not tolerated, and to provide an equitable, supportive and safe environment for all our people young and old. Many of the projects on display today are doing just that.

Before the various acts get underway I would just like to take this opportunity to thank all the performers and their mentors. I think a special thank you goes to Dr Eyman Osman who has played a key role in pulling the performances together.

Finally, I urge you all to enjoy the evening and take the opportunity to talk to the people behind the projects on display.

article copied from http://www.communities.gov.uk/speeches/corporate/hatecrimeshowcase

A NEW body is desperately needed to help defuse racial tensions in North Staffordshire and improve community relations, according to anxious MPs.

The comments come just days after it emerged that the area's race equality council has been forced to shut down after getting into financial difficulties.

The North Staffordshire Racial Equality Council (REC) has made its nine staff redundant and is expected to call in administrators today.

A recent audit by Stoke-on-Trent City Council uncovered huge debts.

The charity received £1 million-a-year of taxpayers' money, but it is unknown how much the independent voluntary organisation owes creditors.

MP for Stoke-on-Trent North Joan Walley said she was shocked to hear of the closure.

She said: "I think the most important thing is that we look at what has happened to see why it has come to this.

"But if the REC cannot continue in its present form then we also need to work with the voluntary sector to see what scope there is for a new single inequality council to be created for Stoke-on-Trent."

Fellow MP Rob Flello, who represents Stoke-on-Trent South, said he feared the REC's demise would be exploited by far-right political groups such as the BNP.

He said: "In a period of our history where more than ever we need organisations that are addressing areas of inequality it is terrible to lose this service.

"It is also a great shame for the staff and all those involved with the organisation.

"It is sad in our own city, to see that inequality is being used by some groups for political gain."

He added: "There is certainly a need for another organisation to deal with inequality."

Former elected mayor of Stoke-on-Trent Mike Wolfe, who was a chairman of the REC during the early 1990s, said he was stunned to hear of the group's collapse.

He also called for urgent action to set up a replacement for the organisation to help protect the rights of minority groups in North Staffordshire.

He said: "If Stoke-on-Trent is to remain a leading multi-cultural city it is essential that it has a successful and thriving racial equality council which can address problems that arise from communities getting on with each other."

He added: "I think it is vial that the city council acts to help set up another organisation as a matter of urgency."

The REC had a budget of more than £1 million a year, made up largely of grants from the Government, local councils and other organisations including Staffordshire Police.

But the Charity Commission, which regulates the voluntary sector, said it had not received any accounting figures from the REC since February 2006.

The closure of the REC will not affect initiatives such as the Game On intervention programme in schools or the PARINS support group for recording and tackling racial incidents

 article taken from the sentinel: http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Failed-race-charity-s-work-say-MPs/article-661975-detail/article.html

This weekend will see all 92 professional clubs show their support for the One Game, One Community weeks of action, with matchday events taking place across the country.

A full list of fixtures is below, but also be sure to look out for specific events taking place at all televised Premier League games, including the games between Middlesbrough and Chelsea at the Riverside, and Stoke and Tottenham at the Britannia Stadium.
The BBC's Football Focus and Match Of The Day along with Setanta and Sky Sports will all be featuring the One Game, One Community weeks of action, with high-profile stars explaining what the campaign means to them.

more details can be found at: http://www.kickitout.org/706.php