Cohesion event

What we did

Henbury is an area in Bristol which has been particularly impacted by these divisions, with an influx of St George’s flags on display as well as racist incidents and attacks happening within the community and online. We received a report outlining some of the horrific events that had occurred since the ethnic breakdown of the area had changed considerably in the last four years – it makes for sober reading.

Henbury Court Primary Academy is striving to create a safer and more welcoming space for all who live in the area and as such we collaborated with the school to host Henbury Hangout

150 guests from a wide range of backgrounds came together to challenge stereotypes, to get to know each other and to have conversations about difference and belonging. There were performances and speeches from children and young people as well as a screening of the film Flagged, encouraging discussion about the impact of xenophobia.

The majority of those who attended had a positive experience, with one Henbury staff member sharing:

“I left with some restored hope. Community is the antidote to hate. At times, it feels hopeless!”

However, there were still some barriers and lack of engagement from a few in the room, showing the need for more of this work. One parent who attended commented:

“How hostile people can be when asked to talk about something difficult for them. There were families here who really struggled to talk about the subject which was a bit of a shock to me.”

Even though a few people remained disengaged, the message of hope for a better future as a result of the event was clear, with positive feedback including:

“Community collaboration is key. Young people can shape this and have the power to move things on.” We hope to continue our cohesion work within Henbury and beyond!”