A campaign and support initiative has been launched in Bath and North East Somerset to raise awareness of antisemitism and to provide free resources to schools and community groups on how to tackle it.

The project, which is being launched this week thanks to £5,000 secured in funding, is being run by the Bath and North East Somerset Faith Foundation. The campaign will also see a series of events being organised across the area over the next 12 months.

Nathan Hartley, director of the B&NES Faith Foundation, said: “Religious or faith-based Hate Crimes have been increasing for the last six years.

“The 2010 Equality Act makes it unlawful to discriminate against someone because of religion or belief, or because of a lack of religion or belief.”

The Faith Foundation’s new project is being funded thanks to grants provided by the Medlock Trust, Westhill Endowment and the Sarum Educational Charity. Funding provided by all three organisations has given the foundation a budget of £5,000, which will be spent on:

In 2023/2024, the Home Office’s Annual Hate Crime Statistics show there were 5,627 religious or other faith-based Hate Crimes across the UK. Of these, 22 per cent were Anti-Semitic in nature.

Most incidents reported to police included verbal abuse, threatening behaviour, harassment and offensive language. The police have recorded 50 per cent of hate crimes as public order offences (for example, causing fear, alarm or distress) and a further third (36 per cent) were for violence against the person offences.

For more details readers can contact the Bath and North East Somerset Faith Foundation by emailing [email protected]