HATE Crime Awareness Week sees the launch today of Defiant Voices – an ambitious educational programme involving 100 sixth form students from five County Durham schools.

Funded by Durham Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg, and created by The Forge, the region’s leading arts in education agency, the programme uses theatre, drama and music, to create young civic ambassadors who will stand up against prejudice and promote respect and inclusion within their own school communities.

Mr Hogg said: “It is really heartening to see so many young people get involved in a local project which examines the cause of intolerance within communities.

“The project was awarded a grant from my Community Safety Fund, which is managed and part-funded by County Durham Community Foundation. I’m pleased that this will help to reinforce and embed the positive message to our young people, that there is no place for bullying and hate in our communities.”

The students gather at Durham Sixth Form Centre today, where a theatre production of The Tin Ring, the internationally acclaimed one-woman show based on the real-life story of Holocaust survivor Zdenka Fantlova, will mark the start of their reflective journeys.

They will then take part in a programme of cultural activities and workshops.