Disability hate crime is a significant problem. While people with a learning disability are not explicitly identified within official Scottish statistics, disability hate crime saw a 20% increase in 2014-15 over the previous year. Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability (SCLD) is leading on a national project in relation to learning disability hate crime, and North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership Leaning Disabilities team (NHS and NAC social work) is now involved with Phase 2 of this work.
Key Activities
North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, Police Scotland, Cornerstone; Hansel Alliance and SCLD collaborated in setting up two workshops based around the use of forum theatre to raise awareness and encourage local action planning in relation to disability hate crime. The theatre piece at the centre of the workshops was developed by people with a learning disability and others from Centrestage Kilmarnock. The forum theatre format allows for the exploration of issues in a way which informs the audience, but also involves them in shaping the narrative.
Benefits and Impact
The establishment of safe, inclusive communities is a key element of the national vision for integration, and supports the 2020 vision in relation to prevention and maximising wellbeing. Through the use of forum theatre, it is hoped that workshop participants will be motivated and empowered to get involved in the discussion surrounding hate crime, and subsequently support individuals and organisations to act on it.
Learning
The willing collaboration between third sector partners and other agencies which has supported the workshops planned implementation in North Ayrshire is testament to the priority attached to this issue. Previous workshops undertaken as part of the SCLD project have proven to be powerful experiences for those attending. The North Ayrshire planning partners anticipate the workshops’ delivery in February and March being similarly successful, and a catalyst for further local action.
For further information on this case study, please contact
Engagement and Communications Officer
North Ayrshire Council
01294 317812