The Hate You Take Animation

Dudley safe and sound is proud to announce the successful completion of a project funded through Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) as part of an initiative to strengthen community cohesion, tackle hate, and reduce the risk of extremism across the borough.

Working in partnership with Dudley Council, Dudley CVS and the Dudley Youth Health Champions (DYHCs) at Thorns Collegiate Academy, developed a powerful educational resource designed to counter the spread of hate and extremism. This resource will be shared with schools and community groups to raise awareness and encourage positive dialogue.

Led by Nicola Byrne, Development Officer at Dudley CVS, the project involved nine young people from Thorns Collegiate Academy. Their focus was on the growing issue of misinformation and disinformation online, and how these narratives can fuel hate and hostility within communities. The young people were given creative freedom to explore the topic through their own experiences, resulting in a spoken word poem that became the foundation for a five-minute animation. They even provided all the voiceover work, ensuring the final piece authentically reflects the voices and identity of the Black Country.

The animation premiered at Thorns Collegiate Academy during Hate Crime Awareness Week 2025, attended by parents, governors, Dudley Council Education representatives, and members of Dudley’s Hate and Cohesion Multi-Agency Partnership (HCMAP). MHCLG representatives praised the work as “powerful, thought-provoking, and important”

Each young participant received a Chief Superintendent’s Award, a Dudley CVS hoodie, and a £20 gift voucher kindly donated by member Merry Hill Shopping Centre.

The resource is now being adapted into an assembly and lesson format for use in schools.

This project demonstrates Dudley’s commitment to fostering unity, challenging hate, and empowering young voices to make a difference.