Supporting Southampton’s diversity

Read on to find information about:

• Supporting Faiths
• Supporting ethnic groups
• Supporting women and girls
• Supporting LGBTQIA+ communities
• Reporting hate crimes

Supporting Faiths

Southampton Council of Faiths

Southampton Council of Faiths promotes understanding between faiths in the city. Seven faiths are represented on the council which meets about eight times a year. Up to five representatives are nominated to the council by each faith:

• Bahai
• Buddhist
• Christian
• Hindu
• Islam
• Judaism
• Sikhism

The Council of Faiths organise events with the different faith communities of which you could be a part. Get involved with these events.

The Council of Faiths also provide a map detailing some of the places of worship across Southampton City Centre.

Supporting ethnic groups

Find out about support available for ethnic groups:

Supporting women and girls

The language ‘Women and Girls’ is used because women and girls, and those who identify as female, are more likely to be victims of the following types of crimes, which are usually perpetrated by men:

• Domestic abuse
• Child abuse
• Sexual abuse/violence, including rape
• Stalking and harassment
• Forced marriage
• Female genital mutilation (FGM)
• ‘Honour-Based’ abuse
• Human trafficking
• Sexual exploitation
• Revenge porn

However, anyone of any age, background, ethnicity, and gender can be a victim of these offences, and we do not neglect these forms of abuse directed towards men or perpetrated by women.

Helplines

Below are a range of national and local support services for anyone who may be experiencing abuse.

Supporting LGBTQIA+ communities

There is support available for hate crime and domestic abuse from Galop:

Galop National LGBT+ Hate Crime Helpline

For violence, abuse, or harassment, call 0207 704 2040 (available 10am - 4pm, Monday to Friday).

Get in touch via email at HateCrime@galop.org.uk.

Find out more about the Galop Helpline.

Galop National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline

Call 0800 999 5428 (Monday to Friday 10am - 5pm, Wednesday to Thursday 10am - 8pm) or email help@galop.org.uk.

Hate crimes

Hate crime is any behaviour you think is motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person’s:

• Race or perceived race
• Religion or perceived religion
• Disability or perceived disability
• Sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation
• If the person is transgender or perceived to be transgender

Reporting a hate crime

Report hate crimes online to True Vision, the National Police Scheme to help victims report hate crime online.

Always call 999 in an emergency.

If it is a non-emergency, call 101 or you can report it online.

You can also report hate crimes via SPECTRUM’s ‘Love Don’t Hate’ reporting app. It can connect you to your nearest third-party reporting centre. Find out more about SPECTRUM.

Southampton & South Hampshire Hate Crime Network

The following message was written by The Southampton & South Hampshire Hate Crime Network:

"For the past five years, Southampton has had its very own community-run initiative dedicated to tackling Hate Crime. We, the Southampton (and now South Hampshire too) Hate Crime Network, are proud to have over 50 community and statutory organisations working together to help stamp out Hate Crime. Whilst there are many individuals across the city, of different religions, races, sexual orientations, gender identities and Disabled People, experiencing Hate Crime it is vital those affected have the support they need.

"People affected by Hate Crime can feel uncomfortable with reporting incidents to the Police. They might feel concerned that they will not be taken seriously or that their anonymity will be lost. Through the network establishing over 30 Third-Party Hate Crime Reporting Centres (TPHCRCs), safe places where victims in the area can go to for advice/support, individuals don’t have to report Hate Crimes directly to the Police. A full list of TPHCRCs in the area can be found on our ‘Hate Crime Love Don’t Hate’ App, downloadable via Google Play or The App Store. The centres are all organisations specialising in supporting the types of individuals affected by Hate Crime.

"Our network also strives to reduce the number of Hate Crimes happening in the area and raise greater awareness of the issue. Over the last year, we have run several workshops encouraging Young People to celebrate diversity and attended local community events to promote the network. We believe these types of activities are encouraging greater intolerance towards Hate Crime."

Find out more about the network, or email hatecrime@spectrumcil.co.uk.