The Anthony Walker Foundation has launched a new programme to tackle racism.
The Commercial and Consultancy Service training programme aims to tackle racism and will work with and in partnership with public and private businesses and organisations complementing their hate crime service and education work.
In the week of Anthony's birthday the foundation launched the new initiative and invited supporters, friends and family to come together at the Liverpool Everyman Theatre.
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Anthony would have celebrated his 35th birthday on February 21 and following his brutal racially motivated murder in 2005 the AWF was set up tackle racism and to deliver anti-racist training and awareness in schools and the communities.
Anthony's' mother Gee Walker told the ECHO : "When people are united, that's what it's all about.
"It's amazing to see the power of unity. How together we can work for change".
The night allowed people from organisations, businesses and individuals, including Riverside MP Kim Johnson, to have informal discussions, network and form professional links and contacts to continue these conversations after the event.
The event was opened by the Everyman/Playhouse CEO Mark Da Vanzo, who said: "Our organisation is striving to be an anti-racist organisation. To do that we need partners and one great partner has been the AWF.
"We have been working with them over the last year and a half looking at training and staffing, issues around microaggressions and unconscious bias.
“Creating a safe space for conversations, that's what its all about.
"A welcoming and safe space for everyone".
Commercial Consultancy Manager Samia Benbrih said: "The AWF Commercial and Consultancy Service saw a renewed interest from public and private sector organisations across Merseyside for anti-racism and hate crime awareness training following the murder of George Floyd in 2020.
“The foundation aims to challenge racism at all levels of organisations, and shape cultural change to promote racial equity through training, projects, consultancy, and partnerships.
"The charity has developed a hybrid training offer, made up of ‘off-the-shelf’ content on topics such as racial bias, microaggressions and intersectionality, as well as bespoke packages.
“These modules are ever evolving because AWF endeavours to remain at the vanguard of anti-racist thought".
Following the last year or two where working from home has become the norm, the event gave the opportunity for attendees to come together to hear about the work the AWF has continued to deliver during the pandemic and to learn more about its plans for 2022.
The foundation continues to deliver educational work in schools on hate crime awareness, Anthony’s story and anti-racism, as well as offering teacher training.
Against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, the foundation experienced a 126% increase in reports of hate during 2021.
Some months saw the number of referrals doubled in comparison to the previous year underlining the ongoing importance of the charity’s Hate Crime Service which works with partners to combat racism in our communities and support survivors and their families.
Chief operations officer, John Williams oversees the delivery of projects and the education portfolio that they offer.
John oversees the business side of dealing with organisations too and said: "I lead a small team of people for the hate crime support team supporting victims of religious and race hate crime.
"We hope that people will join up with us and let's see what we can do for 2022".
Catherina Quinn, who has a legal background, is the new education lead and she told the ECHO: I believe education on tackling race hate crimes and promoting anti-racism, is imperative in all schools.
"It is encouraging to see that so many schools are wanting to engage our services and this demand is growing.
"Education and supporting young people were Anthony’s passions and I am honoured to be carrying out his work".
If you have been a target of hate in any form, please visit https://anthonywalkerfoundation.com/speak-out/ for support or call 0800 876 6646
