Arts students tackle hate crime (From Sutton Guardian)

Croydon College pupils raise awareness over hate crime

7:20am Thursday 28th June 2012 in Video By Andrew Bloss

Croydon College students took to the stage at the Whitgift Centre to raise awareness about hate crime yesterday.

Fifteen performing arts students put on a 20 minute production about hate crime which was their interpretation of a yearlong workshop with Croydon Council.

Students who were involved in the workshops devised a play which was then given to the performing arts department.

Carl Parker, from the Safer Croydon Partnership Unit, who ran the hate crime awareness programme, said it was a worthwhile project.

He said: "We wanted to show the impact hate crime has on people’s lives. It was the second time I have run the programme and I thought it went well.

"I think it is essential that people learn about hate crime. It is motivated by prejudice and hostility and there are a lot of aspects to it.

"The students really engaged with what they were doing. It was extra -curricular so it was their choice to come in and learn more about it.

Kathleen Hawke, the student's teacher at Croydon College, said: "The whole thing is showing that we aren't just doing the daily things but we are trying to make a slight difference. Even if it is one small step.”