Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Stand Up! Leads the Way

November was a productive month for Stand Up! Education Against Discrimination, with our team engaging over 2,700 students across 14 schools through 59 workshops. These figures underscore the persistent demand for our work as we equip young people with the tools to challenge discrimination and foster safer, more inclusive school environments.

The importance of this mission has never been more apparent. Recent reports (click here) from the CST (5,583 antisemitic incidents over 12 months) and TellMAMA (4,971 anti-Muslim incidents over the same period - click here) highlight the troubling normalisation of anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim hatred. These trends, no longer isolated spikes, reveal the urgent need for education that combats prejudice. Teachers have increasingly voiced concerns about the emotional impact of these societal issues on students, reinforcing the necessity of informed and constructive dialogue in schools.

Our Stand Up! coordinators delivering one of their many November workshops

In response, Stand Up! continues to deliver expert-led workshops, empowering both students and educators to address sensitive topics around discrimination. November also coincided with significant awareness campaigns, including Interfaith Week, Islamophobia Awareness Month, and Anti-Bullying Week. Our sessions encouraged students to explore religious diversity and the value of interfaith dialogue in promoting mutual respect. Bullying prevention was another key focus, inspiring students to take an active role in driving positive change within their schools.

Throughout the month, we were moved by the openness and thoughtfulness displayed by the students we engaged with. Many expressed gratitude for living in diverse communities and recognised the privilege of interacting with people from various backgrounds. Their desire to make a meaningful difference in their communities reflects the emergence of a new generation of compassionate upstanders.

In addition to working with students, we continued to support teachers with training on addressing prejudice, combating anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred, and modelling inclusive behaviours.

As we approach December, Stand Up! remains committed to building on this momentum, driving forward our mission to educate against discrimination and nurture inclusive environments for all.