Bongo's Bingo Charity of the Month
The Anthony Walker Foundation
Nov. 28, 2023
This month we supported The Anthony Walker Foundation, an incredible organisation working endlessly to combat racism and hate crime to build stronger and safer communities.
On July 30th, 2005, Anthony Walker, smart, ambitious, and charismatic teenager from Liverpool, was just 18 years old when he was brutally murdered in a racially motivated attack.
Dr Gee Walker, Anthony’s mother, and Anthony’s family and friends did not want his murder to be another hate crime statistic and wanted his name to live on with a positive legacy.
The Anthony Walker Foundation (AWF) was established in 2006.
They are now region’s leading Anti-racism charity. The work they do and the messages they deliver are essential. Everyone associated with the Foundation is committed to making a difference by challenging prejudice, discrimination, inequality and instead promoting peace, harmony, and integrity.
The CEO of the AWF Kaushik Mistry is incredibly proud to share that to date the organisation have supported over 70,000 young people. The AWF believes that education is key to dismantling racism. The main aim of the Foundation is to share Anthony’s story and promote racial harmony, hopefully leading to safer communities. Their workshops undoubtedly support the wider inclusive work of schools, businesses, and other organisations.
The charity aims to empower and educate people to challenge hate crimes/incidents and embrace anti-racism through collective learning and thought-provoking discussions. With the aid of positive group participation and engagement. Working to create a society free from hate and prejudice. They believe Anti-racism work should always start in the home, but closely followed and supported by what is being taught and practised in our schools, communities, and workplaces.
Through educational work, AWF encourages young people to challenge attitudes that lead to harm against others whilst celebrating and welcoming all that makes us different. The Speak Out Stop Hate Anti-racism sessions have been successfully delivered to over 80 schools this last year alone. There is no doubting the positive affect their work has had on many of those who have participated in sessions and just a few of these teacher testimonies have been included here:
Teacher Feedback to AWF’s support:
“How it was explained how we are all unique and how we should celebrate diversity. The context you provided, and how sensitively you explained what happened to Anthony. In addition to this, the realisation for our children that influence can come from home, and the fact that they don’t have to have the same opinions as their parents and carers.”
“Thank you so much for your time last week. Staff and pupils found it extremely invaluable, and as a result a great deal of discussion has been had. We hope to see you again in the new academic year.”
“One of the main things was the difference between not being racist and being anti-racist. The children talked a lot about this after your visit, and this shows how powerful the assemblies were.”
“Thank you so much for your time and for speaking with the children. We hope you can come back in the new academic year and speak with our parents as well as our children.”
“Thank you so much for an informative, engaging, and heartfelt assembly/workshop. I would recommend this to every school to understand the significance of eradicating racism today.”
The Race Hate Crime Victim Support service and the schools they engage with, have witnessed a marked increase in the numbers of people seeking support following racist incidents. There is no doubt that their work is essential. AWF works supportively to help safeguard the community and empower it to challenge and report racism they may witness or experience.
There are a multitude of ways you can support The Anthony Walker Foundation as an individual or a community. You can encourage your management to engage with the organisation to provide Anti-Racism workshops and training to your company and encourage your schools to work alongside them, providing assemblies and classroom discussions.
Unfortunately, the charity has seen a rise in hate crime and increasing acts of racism related violence. Their funding is under increasing pressure.
To donate, get involved and learn how to combat racial hate crime in your community, please head to:
