From Schools to Parliament: A Month of Stand Up! Engagement

February has been a month of meaningful engagement and impactful work for the Stand Up! team. Over the past few weeks, we have visited nine schools, delivering 25 workshops to 1,181 students. These sessions covered key themes such as anti-discrimination, inclusion, and mutual respect.

This month, Stand Up! staff also took part in valuable training opportunities. The team attended an antisemitism training session that explored philosophical and existential questions surrounding anti-Jewish racism. This session provided crucial insights into how to challenge harmful stereotypes—such as the myth that Jewish people control Hollywood—while deepening our understanding of Jewish representation in the entertainment industry. We also discussed the latest statistics on antisemitism and the lived experiences of British Jews, strengthening our ability to address these issues in our workshops.

Our Education and Regional Lead, Karl, attended the final event in the Faith Forum for London’s Democratic Engagement Series at the Houses of Parliament. This event, which featured Shadow Minister for Health and Social Care, Lord Kamall, marked the conclusion of the first stage of the programme. It brought together participants from faith backgrounds, community leaders, members of parliament, and campaign groups to discuss democratic participation. Karl is looking forward to progressing onto the next stage, supporting efforts to increase engagement in democratic processes.

Meanwhile, our Impact and London Lead, Mohammed, attended the launch event for the Commission into Countering Online Conspiracies, hosted by Public First. This research provided valuable insights into the growing impact of online misinformation, particularly how conspiracy theories are spreading and influencing young people’s perceptions of the world.

Karl and Project Coordinator, Aimee, also participated in JAMI’s Youth Mental Health First Aid training. This course equipped the team with essential skills to support young people facing mental health challenges, allowing us to further integrate awareness and sensitivity into our anti-discrimination work.

The Alan Senitt Upstanders Leadership Programme continued this month in collaboration with Streetwise. The third seminar, held for schools on Tracks 1 and 2, focused on informal education and the importance of being active upstanders in their communities. The session also provided students with the tools to run their own informal educational activities, ensuring that they not only learn but also pass on their knowledge and skills to others.

With another month of learning, advocacy, and action behind us, we remain committed to standing up against discrimination and empowering young people to make a difference.