Bury schools unite to take a stand against hate

As Greater Manchester Hate Crime Awareness Week (2–8 February) begins, Bury schools are helping to lead the way by taking a stand against hate crime.

Schools are working together to promote a charter created to challenge prejudice, promote understanding, and celebrate diversity in every part of school life.

Uniting Bury Schools Together Against Hate is rooted in the words spoken by Nelson Mandela in 1984, that no one is born hating another person, and the belief that people can be taught to choose respect and unity instead.

The charter is the result of an event which took place in November, devised and hosted by Parrenthorn High School in Prestwich and supported by partners and the Bury Youth Cabinet.

The day brought together 26 Bury schools including primary, secondary, special schools and colleges from across the borough, including faith schools whose students had never been to an event outside their own community before, to share ideas and agree a collective commitment to tackling hate and discrimination.

Over 100 young people took part in mixed group workshops exploring what hate crime means, how it affects communities, and what actions schools can take to create safer, kinder spaces for everyone. They were then asked to come up with statements about the issues that were the most important to them all.

The day concluded with Bury’s Youth Cabinet facilitating the final eight statements that make up the Bury Anti-Hate Charter, based entirely on the views and language of pupils themselves. A visually designed version of the Charter will now be shared with all participating schools to use in assemblies and classroom discussions, helping to embed respect, inclusion, and interfaith understanding in everyday school life.

Chris Bell, head teacher of Parrenthorn and joint interim CEO of Vision Trust who organised and chaired the event, said: “During the day we celebrated difference, not as something to ‘tolerate’ but as something that enriches us and ultimately binds us together. It was a privilege to welcome other schools and colleges to Parrenthorn High School, and one of the best things that I have taken part in during my entire career as an educator.

“I’ve never experienced anything like the buzz in the room by the end of the day. Bringing together 26 schools, across all ages, in one space to work side by side on a single purpose is almost unheard of, and by the close, the pupils themselves had created a powerful Anti-Hate Charter, which we then captured in our design.”

Each participating school is now sharing the charter with their wider school community, with a follow-up event planned for March 2026 to review progress and deepen the work.

Councillor Lucy Smith, cabinet member for children’s services and skills at Bury Council, said: “This initiative shows the power of young people in shaping a fairer, more inclusive society, and the council is proud to stand alongside our schools in this work. Bury’s children and young people are leading the way, showing that difference is something to be embraced, not feared, and that by standing together we can challenge hate wherever it appears.”

Parrenthorn and partner schools are now looking to build further collaboration with the council and local youth services, including participating in anti-hate crime ambassador training and wider work on preventing hate incidents.

Parrenthorn will also continue to champion its Cultural Diversity Week and other interfaith and equality activities, with an ambition to grow the network of schools involved and explore how young people’s voices can influence national conversations about British values and what it means to truly embrace diversity.

To get involved with Uniting Bury Schools Together Against Hate please contact: Chris Bell cbell@parrenthorn.co.uk

There will be future opportunities for young people to train with council staff and Greater Manchester Police to become Anti-Hate Crime Ambassadors for their schools. The date has yet to be decided, but it will take place in February or March. For more information contact please contact Lesley Davidson on l.davidson@bury.gov.uk

ENDS

Press release issued: 2 February 2026.