Nominations open for challenging hate awards

The #No2h8 Crime Awards is accepting submissions for individuals and organisations that tackle hate and prejudice in communities.

The Awards aim to recognise actions that challenge anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism and others forms of hate. Winners will be announced in October, at a ceremony in central London.

Faith Matters launched the Awards, in coordination with the Community Security Trust (CST), Tell MAMA, GALOP, Stonewall and Stop Hate UK last year, with over 300 individuals and 40 organisations participating.

The initiative is open to any social activist, organisation or individual that makes a local difference in the levels of hate, racism and prejudice. You can nominate a person or group here, on the #No2H8 Crime Awards site.

Richard Benson, former head of the CST will be chairing the event. “I have devoted over 20 years of my professional and private life to combating anti-Semitism and all forms of hate crimes and have worked with amazing people and organisations who are at the sharp end of countering the same issues. They stand up for what’s right and with so much intolerance and hatred these brave people need to be honoured openly and proudly for what they do,” he said.

The judging panel will decide the winners of the 10 categories. These include a youth, community volunteer and a parliamentarian upstander award. The judges include former chief executive of the King’s Fund, Rabbi Baroness Neuberger; independent reviewer of terror legislation and PREVENT, Lord Carlile; and chief executive of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, Nazir Afzal.

A Jo Cox award will also be presented in honour of the MP’s values. At her maiden speech to Parliament, she had said: “We are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us.”