Hate Crime Awareness artwork displayed across Tameside

MOSAIC artwork panels created by local young people, community groups and residents are helping to raise awareness of hate crime and celebrate diversity across Tameside.

More than 200 residents and 90 students from Tameside College contributed to the project, delivered by Tameside Council's Community Safety Partnership over the past 12 months. 

Through a series of sessions with community and youth organisations, the project highlighted what a hate incident or hate crime is, with the aim of increasing the confidence to report and support information for victims. 

After an education hate crime awareness talk from the council’s community safety team, professional artist Caroline Coates, engaged with participants delivering the practical sessions to design and create individual mosaic panels with nine groups for public display. 

Each group created a key message, personal to them, covering the different strands of hate crime. The panels will now be displayed across the borough as a mural of community, respect and peace. 

The initiative is part of the wider Greater Manchester ‘Let's End Hate Crime’ campaign. 

Students took part through the Arts Award Discover programme, delivered by Tameside Council Cultural Services, which uses creative activities to help young people explore important themes, messages and learning opportunities. 

Groups that took part were: Water Adventure Centre (WAC) Droylsden, The Power of Resilience Stalybridge CIC, Thomas Ashton School Hyde, Outloud LGBTQ Tameside & Tameside Youth Council, Ashton Youth Club (Holy Trinity Community Centre), Young People & Tameside Health Group (Ashton Central Mosque) Hyde Town Centre Residents Drop In and Tameside College ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) groups; adults and 16-19s. 

The panels completed by Tameside College students are located on site on Beaufort Road and Old Street sites. The remaining seven community panels are now located at Ashton Interchange and Hyde Bus Station, Tameside's main transport hubs. These locations are used by many residents and students, ensuring the artwork is seen by a wide audience. 

Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Towns, Transport and Connectivity, Cllr Stephen Homer said: “It is excellent to see the fantastic Mosaic Panels bringing such an important message to life. Those involved have played a significant role in raising awareness of hate crime and its impact, while also supporting efforts to create a more inclusive, respectful and welcoming Tameside. 

“We also want to thank Transport for Greater Manchester for helping us display the artwork across the borough.” 

Howad Hartley, Facilities Director – TfGM, said: "We're always proud to work alongside local communities, and this is a great way to shine a light on this project. Created by local people, these mosaics celebrate respect and peace, and we're delighted to display them at our bus stations for Bee Network passengers to see" 

Anyone experiencing hate crime can report online or report to GMP.