Brandon Trust has withdrawn from the Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Service (BHCDS).
Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Service is a partnership which aims to offer a complete service for victims of hate crime and discrimination within Bristol.
For more than 10 years, Brandon Trust has been a proud member of the partnership, working alongside organisations including SARI (Stand Against Racism and Inequality), Off the Record Bristol, Bristol Mind, Bristol Law Centre, and Resolve West.
Why is Brandon Trust withdrawing?
Sadly, the funding available for our contribution to the BHCDS, is no longer sufficient to cover our costs. As a result, we’ve made the difficult decision to withdraw from the partnership, effective from 1 July.
Brandon Trust was providing disability hate crime support for people with:
- Physical impairment
- Sensory impairment (including Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Blind and Visually Impaired people)
- Learning disabilities
- Neurodivergent or people with Autism Spectrum Condition
- Long-term health conditions 12 months+
A team of three paid actors who have a learning disability or autism, under the guidance of a project coordinator, were leaders in promoting awareness of disability hate crime. They also provided interactive training sessions for people with lived experience and professional care workers.
Having secured additional funding, SARI and the remaining partners will continue to support all disability hate crime cases, until the end of March 2026. If an application for further funding is successful, the West of England Centre for Inclusive Living (WECIL), will join the partnership from April 2026. They will become the new partner for disability hate crime referrals.
We wish the partners a long and successful future delivering this important and valued work.
What is a hate crime?
Hate crime is motivated by prejudice against a person because of their:
- Ethnicity or race
- Disability
- Sexual orientation
- Gender identity
- Religion or beliefs
- Age
What can hate crime be?
- A physical attack like hitting
- Name calling or bad gestures
- Threats, harassment, or intimidation
- Damage to property
- Nasty letters, emails, texts, phone calls, social media messages etc.
