Hundreds of young people across Huddersfield will be inspired to ‘give racism the red card’ thanks to funding from Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin.
The football-based charity Show Racism the Red Card has been awarded cash from the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund (MSCF).
The money comes from the proceeds of crime and has been seized by the police and law enforcement agencies.
The MSCF funding will allow the charity to deliver an anti-racism project in five schools across Huddersfield. The project is one of 68 in West Yorkshire to share over £500,000 from the fund.
Keziah Major, the North West manager for Show Racism the Red Card, said: “At Show Racism the Red Card, we believe that early intervention and education is key to tackling hate crime and racism.
“Thanks to the funding from the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund, we will be able to work with more than 500 young people in schools across Huddersfield, working with them to educate them on the devastating impact of racism and appreciate the diversity our wonderful region has.”
The grants were awarded by the mayor at an event at Dewsbury Minster. Among the other groups to benefit is Focus4Hope, a Calderdale-based organisation that supports vulnerable people and those in need across West Yorkshire.
The mayor’s funding will allow them to provide additional support for women and children fleeing domestic abuse.
Founder Louise Reed said: “This money will help us to support women and families who have fled difficult and violent situations. It will allow them to re-build their life and begin their journey in their new home.”
Groups and organisations were awarded grants of up to £10,000 from a total pot of £581,541.
Mayor Brabin said: “It is humbling to be able to support so many fantastic organisations working to make our region a safer, fairer place.
“The reason we choose to reinvest this money taken from criminals is the huge difference these projects can make to the lives of people they support in our communities.
“I look forward to visiting more of these organisations over the coming year to find out more about their work and want to thank West Yorkshire Police once again for helping to make the fund possible.”
Since its inception in 2021, the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund has handed out a total of £3.04m to 357 local projects.
The fund’s next grant round is due to open on November 11. For more information, visit https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/policing-and-crime/mayor-s-safer-communities-fund/
Other Kirklees groups to receive grants were: Huddersfield Community BJJ; TEAM HANSON; The Oracle 1 Community Org; Yorkshire Mentoring; On the Verge CIC; West Yorkshire Police; Positive Stepz; West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue – Kirklees District Risk Reduction Team; Kirklees Better Outcomes Partnership Limited; The Good Vibe Project; and Temple Well-Being CIC.
