It looks at whether charities need to investigate security measures – and how these can be funded
Charites have been issued with guidance on how best to operate and protect themselves amid a growing surge of far-right hate.
The Directory of Social Change (DSC) has published a handbook called Charities Against Hate offering advice to organisations on how to respond to racism and xenophobia.
It is available to download for free and sets out practical actions organisations can take “to ensure their safety and continued operation, to reevaluate strategic planning and to join in solidarity with others to push back against racism and discrimination”.
The new guidance outlines steps charities can take when confronted with incidents of direct discrimination or aggression.
It emphasises the need to ensure people’s immediate safety – and subsequent wellbeing – and to escalate matters to directors and trustees, enabling them to effectively plan any next moves such as holding emergency meetings.
The guide also looks at whether charities need to investigate security measures – and how these can be funded, and suggests groups link up with the wider anti-racism movement and encourages a cross-sector approach.
In a preamble, the DSC says: “The UK is experiencing an unacceptable rise in racist, xenophobic and sectarian hate. Extremist groups, and in some cases politicians, are targeting racialised people and marginalised communities with racist language and narratives, violence, threats, intimidation and harassment.
“This is also directly affecting charities and voluntary organisations, targeting the people charities serve, charity leaders, staff and trustees. It is increasingly evident that the effects are not limited to organisations helping people who have been displaced but extend to many different types of organisations and causes, especially those working with or representing marginalised communities.
“This resource aims to provide practical actions that charities can take to ensure their own safety and continued operation, to help them re-evaluate their strategic planning, and to join in solidarity with others to push back against racism and bigotry.”
