The mother of a girl who was murdered in a park in Bacup has collaborated with a charity to increase awareness about hate crime.

Dr Sylvia Lancaster OBE will be heading up an event organised by The Holocaust Exhibition and Learning Centre in Huddersfield, to launch a series of ‘Changing Perspectives’ events.

Sylvia, mother of murdered Sophie Lancaster and advisor for the Government’s Independent Advisory Group for Hate Crime will hold a hate crime event about how Sophie’s murder led to political and social change.

Dr Sylvia Lancaster OBE said: “Confronting our own prejudices is a vital step to effecting real societal change.

"The Sophie Lancaster Foundation was set up to raise awareness of the nature of intolerance and hate we have in society against individuals just for being different from us and the devastating impact this can have.

"Events like this are so important to raise awareness and educate how we can start to stamp out prejudice, hatred and intolerance”.

This will be the first in a series of events organised by the Yorkshire-based charity, to tackle the deeply set prejudices and intolerances that are prevalent across our local communities.

The events are aimed at highlighting how historical atrocities, such as the Holocaust are relevant to societal issues we face today.

The ‘Changing Perspectives’ events are the idea of Hannah Randall, producer of learning and events at The Holocaust Exhibition and Learning Centre, who will be running the events alongside Dr Alesssandro Bucci, director of Holocaust Survivors’ Friendship Association.

Hannah Randall said: “A lot of the education surrounding the Holocaust doesn’t highlight the build-up to how it happened or link to how it relates to ongoing issues today - so people still don’t grasp the impact intolerances have until something awful happens, but better education could help combat certain issues and behaviours in our society.”

Also joining the event is Nazir Afzal OBE, who was the Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North West of England who has prosecuted and advised on some of the most high-profile and ground-breaking cases in the UK, including the ‘Rochdale Grooming Gang’.

His work has changed the landscape of child protection in the UK and led legislative change on several topics including, violence against women and girls, child sexual abuse and honour-based violence.

The events, which will run over the next year are free to book onto and will be held via Zoom to remain Covid secure and enable people interested, to attend with ease from wherever they are based.

The first event focusing on hate crime in the north and Sophie Lancaster’s legacy will run on October 13 at 5pm.