The Monitoring Group has a long history of involvement in community campaigns in Yorkshire dating back to the Bradford 12 case in 1981.

Over the past 28 years we have helped many families in the regions including those affected by the 7/7 terrorist attack in London, the 2001 Riots, and the trial against Leeds United footballers in 2003. Its involvement in the region has also continued through the intervening years through surgeries, calls to its 24-hour helpline, training programmes and more recently the establishment of a regional office.

Since 2005 TMG has been providing on-going support to victims of hate crime and young people interned under anti-terror law, through a series of public meetings and focus groups with young people and delivering a programme of training on Rights and Responsibilities under anti-Terror Law.

The focus on a number of issues affecting BME communities in Yorkshire have increased since the 2001 race riots in the North, the 9/11 attacks in America and the 7/7 bombings in London. Following a number of consultations post 7/7 with young people in West Yorkshire. It became apparent that young people especially were vocal about their feelings of disempowerment and the failure of current initiatives and service provision to meet their needs.

Young people expressed deep distrust of statutory interventions as they felt that their needs have been historically overlooked. There was however an acknowledgement that there were key issues which needed to be urgently addressed:

•    the loss of trust in the police and criminal justice agencies and the high-profile policing of their neighbourhoods

•    the need for independent victim support services

•    poor educational and employment prospects which are keeping young people impoverished

•    breakdown in traditional power relationships between young people, their family and religious and political elders

•    the perception of disenfranchisement from key decision making processes

•    the bourgeoning sense of a dual British and Muslim identity

In 2008 we set up the West Yorkshire Civil Rights Project with assistance from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and the Barrow Cadbury Trust.

The project aims are;

•    Increase awareness of Civil Rights and discrimination amongst communities in West Yorkshire. Historically the understanding of the true meaning of Civil Rights has becoming encased and often diluted in other policies and legislation. The project seeks to revive the understanding and impact of Civil Rights on individuals and society.

•    To host regular public forums with members of the community where they are able to discuss in a safe and informal setting issues surrounding Civil Rights and Discrimination. We hope to create a group who are able to take forward the issues presented in their areas to highlight real grassroots issues facilitated by TMG and our partners.

•    To develop a regional wide Civil Rights Youth Forum. TMG recognises that the voice of young people is just as important as anyone else when it comes to the issues surrounding Civil Rights and Discrimination. Currently there is no specific project that focuses on this. We aim to provide regular sessions to work with identified young people to establish this forum..

•    To hold several casework advice surgeries in community locations where victims of Hate Crime are able to seek support and advice from trained advisors.

•    To work with community centres and schools to work to provide training on “Handling Racist and Religious Incidents” again this is important as the first point of contact for any individual experiencing Hate Crime is the most crucial.

•    To develop a regional base of volunteers who will support the aims of TMG, in particular supporting our 24 Hour emergency freephone helpline and casework/advice surgeries.

Over the coming year we be holding a range of events. If you wish to help develop the project we have a number of volunteering opportunities.

Please contact

Salima Hafejee at shafejee@tmg-uk.org