Citizenship 21: Supporting Communities, Creating Change

Introduction

The Citizenship 21 project is a new three-year initiative which sprung from the campaign of nail bombings directed against the Black, Asian and gay communities in London in 1999.

After the bombings, calls were made by political, business and community leaders for all communities to work together, building a society based on greater respect and understanding for all minorities.

Citizenship 21 is responding to those calls. Devised and managed by Stonewall, the national organisation working for social equality and legal justice for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals, Citizenship 21 receives financial support from the Community Fund. It aims to promote equality, challenge prejudice and homophobia, and build links between different communities at local and national level.

The process

The project will undertake three core activities to support anti-discrimination work, including:

Citizenship 21 Awards scheme

One third (163260,000) of the funding will be distributed through small grants of up to 1635,000 for community-based projects that bring together different socially excluded communities working to challenge discrimination and promote equality. Citizenship 21 Awards will also offer voluntary and community groups technical support, advice and training on organisational and project development.

Projects likely to be funded could include research, education, community action and development, anti hate initiatives and conferences - anything that brings communities together and helps challenge homophobia and other forms of discrimination.

The deadline for the first round of awards is 30 September 2001.

Information & Research

Citizenship 21 will bring together a national resource bank of data on diversity and prejudice, including research, policy, legislation and best practice methods. This will be available through a website for individuals, and the private, public and voluntary sectors. More details are available from www.c21project.org.uk

Citizenship 21 will also conduct opinion polls into public attitudes and behaviours towards minority groups; and research that investigates major employers' and service providers' policies and procedures in respect of non-discrimination of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals.

Diversity promotion

A series of best practice models and materials for diversity promotion including training to counter homophobic bullying and discrimination in schools and the workplace will be developed. In July Citizenship 21 will publish the first in the series, 'Safe for All: a best practice guide to challenge homophobic bullying in secondary schools'.

What kinds of projects might receive a Citizenship 21 Award?

• A group of gay and straight young people are working together to create a video on stopping racist and homophobic bullying in schools.
• An Asian lesbians' group and a disabled peoples' group want to organise a local conference to discuss practical ways of tackling verbal and physical abuse on a local housing estate.
• Lesbians and gay men work together with mental health service users to reduce the isolation and rejection both groups face when they 'come out'.