The High Peak South Youth engagement team has been in St Thomas More school today delivering an input on Hate crime, this covers many aspects of tolerance and understanding about all diverse communities, and respect for fellow students.

it’s important we make young people aware about how crucial mutual respect is for everyone in society, and the pitfalls of bullying and abuse online and the sending of offensive material.

Freedom of speech is fine, everyone is entitled to express an opinion and robust exchange of views is healthy for a thriving democracy, but when this is done with extreme offense and threatening words and images, this is not alright and is a crime.

Bullying was covered and this was explained in detail, about the impact this can have on young people especially, and the trauma this has on people’s lives.

We were grateful for the warm welcome given to the officer delivering the input by all year groups, and the young people were very responsive to the subjects raised, a big Thanks to David Redfern and his amazing team at St Thomas More’s, for their continued support.