Riverside - Victim’s mums support for shared values

12 February 2010

The mother of murdered schoolboy Anthony Walker delivered a message of peace to children from Thomas Gray and All Saints schools in Bootle in support of social inclusion.

Social landlord Riverside and Sefton CVS’s Equalities Partnership have worked together with Gee Walker to deliver peace talks to year 6 pupils as part of a continuing series of initiatives in the Peel/Knowsley Housing Market renewal area linked to last year’s launch of its Values Statement promoting community cohesion. Hate Crime targets people because of their identity and is a form of discrimination that infringes human rights and Gees message of tolerance and understanding is one that underpins the Values Statement. Riverside Community Initiatives Officer Bob Campbell said: “The Anthony Walker Foundation’s ethos is very similar to the Peel Knowsley Value Statement - both exist to foster understanding of equality and diversity in the building of communities.” Working with Riverside and the Equalities Partnership, the Anthony Walker Foundation have also delivered training to youth workers to further raise the profile of the Values Statement and Sefton’s Young Advisors will develop a child friendly version of the Values Statement.

The Values Statement was developed by Peel Road Community and Residents Association with support from Riverside, Sefton Equalities Partnership and Sefton Housing Market Renewal.

It clearly sets out the beliefs that everyone has the right to fair treatment regardless of who they are or what they have done. Since it was launched last summer, the Values Statement has gone from strength to strength, recently winning a Community Champions Award.

Councillor Brenda Porter, Chair of the Equalities Partnership and Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “We are proud to be working with Gee and the Anthony Walker Foundation to promote community cohesion in Sefton and to build inclusive welcoming communities that stand up to hate.”