Centre for Hate Studies launches new suite of digital training on hate and extremism

The evidence-based training will enable professionals across sectors to respond to growing challenges of hate and extremism.

The Centre for Hate Studies at the University of Leicester has developed a new, free-of-charge suite of digital training modules on hate and extremism. The training is based on recent research evidence, and has been produced at a time when reported incidents of hate and extremism have escalated within the UK and beyond.

Designed to aid frontline professionals with responding to the challenges associated with hate and extremism, the training offers practical, evidence-based guidance drawn from contemporary research.

In addition to being accessible to individuals and organisations based anywhere in the world, each training module includes real-life case studies and good practice recommendations, designed to improve knowledge and understanding.

The modules address a range of key themes which pose particular challenges for communities across the country and for professionals working within a range of sectors, including criminal justice, education, health and social care. They include:

• Engaging with Diversity
• Preventing Hate and Extremism
• Supporting Victims of Hate Crime
• Tackling Religiously Motivated Hate
• Hate Crime in Higher Education
• Hate Crime on Public Transport

Dr Stevie-Jade Hardy, Associate Professor at the Centre for Hate Studies, said: “Hate and extremism are significant social problems which present challenges for professionals working across a range of sectors, many of whom have limited awareness of existing research evidence and good practice.

“To date, we have delivered face-to-face training to more than 2,000 professionals and policy-makers, which has not only received universally positive feedback but also substantially changed awareness and understanding of hate and extremism, transforming responses to victims and perpetrators.”

Professor Neil Chakraborti, Director of the Centre for Hate Studies, said: “Our research has highlighted a need for high-quality training hate and extremism, but we know that training can often be perceived as being uninspiring, superficial or inaccessible to those who most need it. In providing a new suite of digital training modules which is interactive, engaging, based on cutting-edge research and available without cost, we hope that professional organisations and individual users can learn new ideas that transform their responses to hate and extremism.”

• The digital training modules are available to access online now via the Centre for Hate Studies website