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Secondary Education

The Sophie Lancaster Foundation provides vibrant and interactive events and resources to support schools in their initiatives to address bullying, hate crime and the attitudes and behaviour that manifest in response to difference. Independent research into how to successfully tackle prejudice and build social capital between communities, highlights how sustained educational initiatives are necessary to give insight into the identity and experience of others, to create empathy and an understanding of difference.

This is central to what we do. Since many of our resources are interactive and non-prescriptive, they also enable the specific issues occurring in the classroom to be explored in a secure, respectful way. This verbalising of views and perspectives is vital if views are to be challenged, reconsidered, or changed.

The Foundation’s resources contribute to a wide range of subject areas including PSHE, literacy, sociology, criminology, drama and health and social care.

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Resources

Sophie Workshop (Year 7-11)

Everyone should be free to live their life without fear of abuse or attack on the basis of who they are, what they believe, or how they look. Our interactive workshop challenges prejudice and stereotypes and helps to positively inform young people’s views on difference. Questioning techniques help students develop greater critical thinking skills and re-evaluate their feelings about difference and their reaction to it.

The interactive groupwork encourages speaking, listening and teamwork. The Sophie card resource used in the workshop encourages exploration of prejudice and discrimination and covers all strands of equality and diversity including subcultures.

Following an interactive session where students, discuss, write and speak about the cards/images in the resource, there is a 15/20 minute presentation about Sophie Lancaster, her hate motivated murder and subsequent work of the charity to challenge prejudice. It includes slides and two short films; an animation and a music video. This contains one swear word. (Please inform us if this isn’t appropriate.)

Please do not share Sophie’s story with students in advance of the workshop.

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Activity: Interactive workshop and presentation.

Class Size: Maximum 35 students. Students work in groups at tables.

Time: 1 hour

Training Delivery: In person or virtually using Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Cost

Digital delivery:
1 session £400
2 Sessions £550

In house delivery:
1 session £450 (& travel)
2 Sessions £600 (& travel)

Presentation

The presentations are made by a member of our team, and provide a powerful insight towards the impact of hate crime and how an individual’s actions can make a lasting effect on their own life and on that of others. The presentation covers everything from the trial to the work of the Foundation that was established in Sophie’s name. The topic is dealt with sensitively but with honesty and makes a deep impact on the audience. The presentation is followed by an opportunity for questions.

Please do not share Sophie’s story in advance of the presentation.

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Activity: Presentation and Question & Answer session.

Time: 1 hour

Training Delivery: In person or virtually using Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Cost

Digital delivery:
1 session £400
2 Sessions £550

In house delivery:
1 session £450 (& travel)
2 Sessions £600 (& travel)

Black Roses - The killing of Sophie Lancaster Film and Question & Answer Session

The film of Black Roses, directed by Sue Roberts, is a powerful on-screen telling of Poet Laureate Simon Armitage’s Black Roses poem. The poetic sequence gives Sophie back her voice, and her haunting words are woven together with those of her mother Sylvia Lancaster, who talks with candour about Sophie’s life and death.

The film won ‘Best Single Drama of Year’ and ‘Female Performance of the year’ for Julie Hesmondhalgh (as Sylvia Lancaster), in the Royal Television Society NW Awards 2015.

We recommend the film for ages 14+ and it is introduced by a member of our team, who will answer questions following the screening.

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Activity: Black Roses Film and Question & Answer Session.

Time: 1 hour

Training Delivery: In person or virtually using Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Cost

Digital delivery:
1 session £400
2 Sessions £550

In house delivery:
1 session £450 (& travel)
2 Sessions £600 (& travel)

lesley-davidson
It has been my privilege to work alongside the SLF for the past decade. As a local authority officer who is responsible for the emotional health and well-being of children and young people and, who also specialises in anti-bullying strategies, this has been a valuable working partnership. I have attended training days and conferences organised by the SLF and have seen children I have worked with go on to become peer educators within their schools under the title of ‘anti-hate crime ambassadors’. Sophie’s story never ceases to provoke a powerful response with the pupils who have now gone on to produce two videos about Sophie which have been shared across our secondary schools. Sylvia has also spoken at a number of our conferences within Bury and feedback from the audiences, both young and old, are that they have been moved by her words in such a way that they will never forget her story or her bravery.

Each year we deliver immersion days in our schools which focus on hate crime and our collective responsibilities and responses to it. The SLF join us in teaching our pupils about Sophie’s story. Although the lessons begin with a fun activity, once the SLF reveal the extent of the harm that being discriminated against for being different can take, then the pupil response is total silence and shock. It is heartening to hear their comments on how they then understand why hate crime needs to be challenged at its earliest stages and what actions they can do to take positive steps forwards.

I look forward to continuing our working partnership in educating our young people of the importance that words and actions can have on individuals and communities.
Lesley Davidson
Emotional Health and Well-Being Coordinator, Children’s Services, Bury Council
Hi - My 12 year old son is at Moorside High school in Salford and yesterday the foundation, Sophie's brother I think, came to talk to the kids. My son was absolutely blown away by it. He is not enthusiastic about school ever(!) - but he spoke in detail about the talk and what he had learned. It shocked him and left a deep impression. I wanted to say thank you, your work is making a difference.
Parent of pupil, Moorside High School
The Sophie Lancaster Foundation is a fantastic partner to help raise awareness of hate crime in Oldham. The Foundation’s Secondary and Primary School resources are fabulous tools to use with young people to have those difficult conversations and explore issues around identity. The Foundation has delivered a number of presentations to young people in Oldham; this has had a massive impact on young people and challenged their prejudices. A recent presentation of ‘Black Roses’ at Mahdlo Youth Zone in Oldham to young people was a huge success and made an emotional impact on all those that watched it. The film was even more effective, due to Sylvia Lancaster sharing her story. It definitely made people reflect on the extent of hate crimes that take place and the consequences of those actions.
Virbai Kara, Senior Communities Officer
Health and Wellbeing Directorate, Oldham Council