Fostered children learn how to cope with hate crime and its’ effects

Five Rivers fostered children have been facing up to the unpleasant reality of hate crime – and learning how to counteract it.

In August, Chesterfield-based disability self-advocate group Our Vision Our Future (OVOF) presented to a group of 8 children and young people. The advocates talked about bullying of people with disabilities and encouraged participation from the children in terms of their understanding and experiences of hate crime. After the presentation, the children designed their own images to form posters with explanations of hate crime and bullying

Five Rivers’ Participation and Engagement Officer, Olivia Doherty says,

“The session was part of our Participation programme, where children learn to be more self-aware and express their feelings. As their thinking develops they can become more involved in the success of their own care, and more interested in their own community”

While their foster carers attended a training session, the young people studied the OVOF annual report and were inspired by the success of the advocates.

After the session they played in the park and produced beautiful painted stones to be used as paperweights on Five Rivers’ outdoor fostering recruitment stalls around the country.

“Hate crime is a crime which people commit when they faced with someone who is different and they are uncertain of what to do. It’s bad. It could be stopped by teaching people how to react.” A Five Rivers fostered child.

Five Rivers Participation is a growing programme which encourages children to be creative and proactive in contributing to the success of their own foster care. Young people across the country are engaged in a number of projects which we look forward to publicising on the blog and our social media.