96 UK Young People Meet for Tolerance and Peace

"They (Encompass) need to take a step back and really appreciate and respect what they're doing, because they really are doing amazing work and I feel like their workshops and discussions are again unique and they should never move away from that. It's made a positive change in my life, it's also made a positive impact with the young people who've gone on the programme, not just in their education, in everything they've done." Selma, youth worker.

Above is a quote from Selma, a youth worker who has worked with Encompass and sent some of the young people she works with on an Encompass Same Difference programme. Its through partnerships with organisations such as these that we aim to recruit the best participants for our programmes - eg young people that will benefit most.

Encompass has been running UK Same Difference Programmes for a number of years, and they have been a great success. Same Difference combines skills workshops with life-changing training that enhances young peoples prospects. We aim to tackle the factors that lead to race and religious hate crime. To date we've run Same Difference programmes with diverse communities in London, Slough, Bristol and Manchester.

So what's happening at the moment?

Project planning

At the moment we are planning the next phase of these programmes. Programme Development Officer, Sahdia Khan, who has been managing the Same Difference programmes since 2013, said "Same Difference is all about the ability to engage young people and engage partner projects...to foster cohesion and diversity, and interfaith community and ownership; if we're able to do that with organisations and young people, that's what we want to achieve." 

To date Same Difference has combined workshops that challenge themes around identity, community and stereotype, but we are currently looking at ways that we can enhance the follow up work. We want to be able to provide young people with real opportunities, apprenticeships and training that will enhance their employability chances. We already do this to an extent, but really want to expand on it and make Same Difference one of the most comprehensive programmes out there.

Building partnerships

We are currently in talks with youth projects in some of the most socially tense areas in the UK. It is through these partnerships that we recruit the best participants for the programme. We are aiming to run programmes in Bradford, Luton, Manchester, Birmingham and London. For many years we have been working with Active Change Foundation In Walthamstow, London; Aik Saath in Slough, Buckinghamshire and Salmon Youth Centre in Bermondsey, London. In order for the programmes to be successful and achieve our aims, we require a good mix of young people from diverse communities, religions and cultures.

Fundraising  

Of course projects need money to happen. We've been really busy applying to Trusts in the UK in the hope that some will fund the next phase of Same Difference programmes. Please keep your fingers crossed that we can get the funding required to kick start a new round of programmes shortly!

Thank you.