This year’s progress was driven by one clear mission: to challenge hate and build a fairer, safer society for all. This mission is powered by hope, resilience, and the relentless efforts of our team and the communities we work with to create lasting change.
Contents
Welcome
- The Year in Review
- Welcome from Martin Walker, Chair of the Board of Trustees
- Welcome from Alex Raikes MBE DL, Chief Executive
About SARI
The Past Year
- Major Achievements in 2024/2025
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Bristol
- North Somerset
- Somerset
- South Gloucestershire
- Education: Inspiring the Next Generation
- Training: Creating Understanding
- Some of our Other Work
We couldn’t do it without…
Statistical Breakdown
Looking ahead
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The Year in review
In August 2024, a teenager carried out a mass stabbing at a dance class, killing three young girls and impacting an entire community. A rumour went round, completely false that the person responsible was a Muslim asylum seeker. This disinformation fanned the flames of division that had been bubbling for many months and was a catalyst for widespread racist and Islamophobic rioting and violence across the UK.
Israel’s attack on Gaza continued. A ceasefire that came into effect in January ended two months later. By the end of March 2025, over 50,000 people had been killed, but some say these figures are much higher.
Tell Mama recorded the highest number of anti-Muslim hate cases in 2024 since its inception. These were driven by the war in Gaza, news reports on grooming gangs, and the stabbings in Southport. In the same year, the Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitic hate, recorded the second highest reports of antisemitism in its history,
Elections took place across Europe, with the far-right gaining popularity in many of the polls. In the UK, Keir Starmer’s Labour Party came into power after 14 years of a Conservative government. .
Despite being across the Atlantic, Donald Trump’s election win at the end of 2024, and the subsequent policy implementations, have had far-reaching ramifications. The decision to ban diversity, equality and inclusion targets looks to already be impacting the UK.
It was with great sadness that we received the news of the passing of Paul Stephenson. Many will know Paul for his historic role in the 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott — a pivotal moment in the struggle against racial discrimination in the UK. His courageous actions, alongside those of fellow activists, were instrumental in laying the foundations for the Race Relations Act of 1965.
But to us, Paul was more than a civil rights icon. He was a steadfast advocate and supporter of our charity, and a lifelong champion in the fight against racism and inequality. We will always remember him fondly for his unwavering commitment to justice and the powerful legacy he leaves behind.
Photo: Paul at SARI’s 25th Anniversary Celebration in 2016
Richard Allen was a stalwart supporter of SARI for many years. He joined our Board as a co-optee in May 2011 having got to know Batook Pandya MBE DL, founder Director of SARI, when he was working for Avon & Somerset Constabulary and the National College of Policing on improving policing approach to race relations and cultural competency.
Richard remained heavily committed to and involved with SARI until he passed away on 29th December this year. He and his equally supportive wife, Ann Allen, attended nearly every SARI AGM and he was always available to share advice and insight even after moving to Dorset and being diagnosed with Myeloma which meant wrestling with a very serious illness. Richard was a tireless campaigner for equality and justice who dedicated so much of his life to volunteering for SARI and others in need. He was always positive no matter what he was dealing with personally. We were devastated to lose him after all these years.
Welcome from Martin Walker
Chair of the Board of Trustees
I’m delighted to welcome you to Stand Against Racism & Inequality’s annual report. As always, this is a testament both to the dedication of our team in standing against hate and to the strength of the people we support. In this report, we hear from people who’ve been harassed in their homes for their disability, whose children have been bullied in school for their race, and people who’ve been assaulted by neighbours for their sexual orientation or their gender identity. People seek SARI’s support for many different reasons, but they all have one thing in common; they’ve been targeted because of someone else’s prejudice. I know from personal experience how valuable SARI’s services are, and the difference they make to people who’ve experienced hate-motivated incidents and prejudice. In the aftermath of the riots that tore through our communities in the summer, this work is even more important.
The riots also highlighted the need for our preventative work. Our education service has come under increasing demand this year, and our small education team has been busy responding as you’ll see in this report.
We go into the next year in the context of proposed changes to disability benefits. This is causing huge anxiety for many disabled people and, because of the rhetoric around these proposals, there is concern that there could be an increase in disablist hate. We will continue to monitor this and be ready to respond if this is the case.
There has been a clear shift to more right-wing parties and, as a result, we’re also seeing increasingly hostile policies which are eroding human rights for those seeking sanctuary, for LGBTQ+ people, and for women. The narratives that go along with these too often demonise marginalised communities.
I want to take the time to thank everyone at SARI who works so hard to make our communities safer for everyone. I am grateful to the many partner agencies and stakeholders who support our work, collaborate with us to make our clients’ lives better and who are allies in our fight against hate and prejudice. We couldn’t do our job without them. Finally I want to thank all our donors, fundraisers, and partners who invest in us. We were overwhelmed by people’s generosity following the riots and, thanks to you, we can continue standing firmly against hate.
Welcome from ALEX RAIKES MBE DL
Chief Executive
Welcome to our 2024-2025 Annual Report. For me, this is a chance for us to reflect on the challenges we’ve faced, the progress we’ve made, and the extraordinary strength and resilience of the people and communities we support.
This year has brought continued demand for our services, demonstrating the ongoing and critical need for a specialist agency committed to tackling hate crime, supporting victims, and promoting justice and equality. Whether responding to incidents of racism, religious intolerance, homophobia, transphobia, disability hate, or any form of targeted abuse, SARI has remained unwavering in our mission to stand beside those who need us most.
Behind every statistic in this report are real people with powerful stories – individuals and families who have experienced trauma but have also found courage, advocacy, and hope. Our team, partners, and volunteers have gone above and beyond to do all possible to make sure that people facing hate and discrimination don’t feel alone. I only wish that my younger self and my family had a SARI to turn to. I was on my own with no one talking about racism – let alone doing something about it. Facing racist abuse was an everyday norm and you could never imagine reporting it to anyone. It wasn’t even articulated within our family – let alone on the outside.
I am immensely proud of our collaborative work with statutory agencies, community groups, and schools. These partnerships are vital to creating safer, more inclusive spaces for everyone. Together, we continue to challenge injustice, influence policy, and educate for lasting change.
To our supporters, funders, and allies – thank you. Your trust enables us to continue this vital work.
And to every person who has come to SARI in a time of need: thank you for your bravery and for allowing us to walk alongside you.
As you read through this year’s report, I hope you feel inspired, informed, and empowered to continue standing with us against hate and inequality.
With gratitude and solidarity,
Who we are: Champions for
Equality and Diversity
We are an anti-hate charity based in Bristol and operating across Avon and Somerset. We are dedicated to supporting victims of hate crime and hate incidents, whilst providing training and education around the causes and impact of hate in our communities. Our charitable objectives are:
- Eliminating racism and inequalities for people with protected characteristics as defined by law.
- Promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations between those with protected characteristics and the wider community.
- Educating the public about the causes and effects of racism and inequalities.
- Relieving and treating physical, mental, or emotional distress caused by inequalities based on protected characteristics.
WHAT WE DO: STANDING AGAINST HATE
We offer vital support to victims of hate crime, helping them to work through the aftermath of hate, advocating with them for justice, and ensuring that they feel safe in their community. We collaborate with local agencies and communities to prevent hate incidents, promote equality, and enhance community cohesion.
Additionally, we provide training and education to challenge negative perceptions, and promote equality, diversity, and cultural awareness. Our programs reach key service providers like the police, housing associations, schools, and social care providers, empowering them to make a positive impact on people’s lives through better understanding
Hate on our streets
In July and August 2024, towns and cities across the UK erupted in violence after the tragic murder of three young girls. Disinformation spread that the killer was a Muslim asylum seeker with a later post falsely claiming that he was someone who had come to the UK on a small boat. Social media played a huge role in the spread of this disinformation.
Riots, motivated by xenophobia, racism and Islamophobia, spread across the country, leaving many, especially those from minoritised backgrounds, feeling unsafe in their own communities. Mosques and hotels housing people seeking sanctuary were targeted by the violence, as were the homes and businesses of people from minoritised communities.
On August 3rd, the riots came to Bristol, as protesters converged on Castle Park, meeting counter protesters when they got there. At one point, people splintered off and headed towards a hotel they believed was housing people seeking sanctuary. Counter protesters formed a line to protect the people inside the hotel, with chants of “we are many, you are few, we are Bristol, who are you” clearly letting the rioters know that they were not welcome.
The following week, rumours spread that the far-right were going to target immigration and refugee services on Old Market. Bristol communities again came together in solidarity to protect the city and, whilst no far-right protesters showed up, demonstrated that hate is not welcome in our city. As a result of the riots, we swiftly issued guidance for people on how to respond when confronted with hate. We worked behind the scenes with community groups to ensure they felt supported, informed and allyship.
Following the riots, we saw a huge coming together of the community. At SARI, we were overwhelmed by the support that people showed our charity in their desire to stand in solidarity against hate. However, we know that the hate that led to the riots did not disappear when they stopped, which is why we are working within our communities to ensure that we are prepared, resilient, and that we continue to stand against hate.
Major Achievements
Case Referrals
Hate crime
cases opened
Victims
supported
Number of all training and School Sessions Delivered
Number of all training and school sessions attendees
People accessed our website for information about hate crime
Further achievements from 24/25
- In 2024/25 we achieved Trusted Charity Level 2, the highest standard of quality assurance for charities, demonstrating our commitment to excellence, transparency, and continuous improvement in everything we do.
- We held a staff and trustee away day that helped us strengthen our shared vision, build deeper relationships, and align our goals for the year ahead. We will use this to inform our upcoming business plan.
- In April 2024, we held a Voices of Victims event in Bristol to bring together individuals affected by hate crime and discrimination with key agencies such as the police, local council, and fire service. The aim was to ensure these agencies heard directly from victims about their experiences and needs. The event was attended by 95 participants representing 22 different areas across Bristol.
- We had 23 participants raise money through our 100 Runners Against Hate Campaign
- We accepted an invitation to join the National Hate Crime Independent Advisory Group and the National Guild Group.
- In response to widespread concerns over declining content moderation and the rise in harmful discourse following Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, we joined a national campaign to discontinue our use of the platform
Bath and North East Somerset
Referrals received
Disablist referrals
Discrimination referrals
Faith referrals
Sexual orientation referral
Race referrals
Cases opened
Please note that the sum of the numbers above may be higher than the total
as referrals can include more than one hate crime type.
Our work in the area
Despite its apparent affluence, BANES faces hidden poverty, deprivation, and housing pressures. SARI has supported the community since 1991, remaining one of the longest-running and few surviving equalities charities in the area.
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, our Every Victim Matters project provides hate crime casework and outreach across BANES, North Somerset, and Somerset, in partnership with Diversity Trust and SWAN Advocacy.
BANES Council funds our work in schools, social care, and the Virtual School, enabling free assemblies, staff training, and one-to-one support. The success of this program has led to similar services in South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.
We are again grateful to Jason Pegg and the Black Families Education Support Group, key partners in advancing race equality in BANES schools.
Client Case Study
#035-2024/25 – Race Hate
Our client is a dual heritage man who lives with his wife and children near Bath. He and his wife contacted SARI after experiencing years of harassment at the hands of their neighbours, which they felt the police were not taking seriously.
The first incident happened when the family were invited to their neighbour’s house for a party. The host of the party made a racist comment towards our client, at which point he and his family left. Following this interaction, they said there were many more incidents towards him and his wife, including threatening behaviour and verbal abuse, which left the family afraid to go outside without checking if the neighbour was nearby.
Our clients attempted to make police reports but felt dismissed, and that police were implying that they were the issue. The response by the police left them feeling targeted by the police themselves and that the police were ignoring the racial aspect of the incidents. Our clients submitted several police complaints detailing this, in the hope that if the police started to take the harassment seriously, their family could begin to feel safe in their home. They were also keen that the police learned from their handling of the case. We supported them throughout this, arranging meetings with the police to discuss the case. A key part of our support was taking the abuse seriously where the police were not, showing them that we understood, and explaining what could be done to resolve the issues. Whilst it is still an ongoing case, our clients know that we are there to hold the relevant authorities to account and support them throughout the process.
Thank you so much. Very good supporting me and my son. Coming to my house gave us confidence.
– Client #118-2023/24
Bristol
Referrals received
Age referral
Disablist referrals
Discrimination referrals
Faith referrals
Gender referrals
Marriage and civil partnership referral
Mate crime referrals
Race referrals
Sex/misogyny referral
Sexual orientation referrals
Transphobic referrals
Cases opened
Please note that the sum of the numbers above may be higher than the total
as referrals can include more than one hate crime type.
Our work in the Area
Bristol, the largest city in the area we work in, has an international reputation as a diverse, vibrant, and accepting city. In 2024, it was rocked by far-right riots that have heavily impacted our work and the communities we support. In response to this unrest, Central Government awarded Community Recovery funding to Cities and Towns most damaged and impacted by the violence. We were awarded money to provide guidance for mosques and other community buildings.
We continued to work closely with the family of Hubert Isaac Brown, a beloved member of the community who was killed in a racially motivated attack on Friday 29th September 2023.
We lead the Bristol Hate Crime & Discrimination Service (BHCDS), partnering with Brandon Trust, Bristol Law Centre, Resolve West, Off the Record, and Bristol Mind. Through this partnership, on 25th April 2024, we hosted Voices of Victims of Hate and Discrimination, a roundtable where people with lived experience of hate crime or discrimination shared their concerns and ideas on improving the city’s response. It included senior officers and decision-makers from Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Bristol City Council, the CPS, NHS Trusts, the Clinical Commissioning Group, housing associations, education, and other key providers. The service, funded by Bristol City Council, remains the only partnership of its kind nationally.
We play a significant role in Bristol, co-chairing and participating in many strategic partnerships, operational groups, and equalities networks. These cover key areas of housing, public transport, community safety and tensions and focus on the different Protected Characteristics, intersectionality and communities who particularly face inequalities and hate e.g. race, faith, disability, LGBTQ+, refugees, and the Gypsy, Roma & Traveller communities, where more direct engagement is needed.
Client Case STUDY
#178-2021/22 – Homophobic Hate
Polly* came to us in late 2021, after being targeted for her sexual orientation by people who lived in her apartment block. She was being subjected to constant abuse and threats by the perpetrators, and, on one occasion, she was physically assaulted which left her with lasting injuries.
The abuse was incessant and left her feeling afraid to leave her flat. She became increasingly isolated, her sleep and eating were disrupted, and her mental health suffered severely.
When Polly came to us, it was clear she needed someone to support her to get her voice heard. Her Project Worker, Tara, worked hard to raise the hate crimes with the police and housing, making sure they were taking it seriously.
We attended various meetings to ensure she was being heard, helping her to prepare for them so that she felt confident to attend. We signposted her to relevant specialist agencies, making sure she was getting the support she needed as the persistent abuse was having an impact on her mental health.
All of this work culminated in her getting placed on band one for new housing, meaning she was a higher priority for a house move.
She moved earlier this year, which has been transformative for her. Life is a lot more positive; she has made new friends and has started volunteering, rebuilding her life following the incessant trauma of the homophobic hate crimes that she experienced.
*Not their real name
The work SARI does isn’t recognised enough. (My caseworker’s) patience, kindness and open-mindedness was so unlike the responses you usually get. I really appreciated coming to a place where there is no judgement.
– Client #131-2022/23
North Somerset
Referrals received
Disablist referrals
Discrimination referral
Faith referral
Race referrals
Sexual orientation referral
Cases opened
Please note that the sum of the numbers above may be higher than the total
as referrals can include more than one hate crime type.
Our work in the Area
We have been working hard in North Somerset to raise awareness of our work and make sure that we’re reaching the people who need us. Our dedicated team delivered empowerment sessions, trainings, and attended numerous festivals, including several Pride events, ensuring we were visible and known throughout the area.
Along with the funding for the Every Victim Matters (EVM) project, we’re very grateful to have been funded by North Somerset Council to deliver interventions in schools, working with children and young people who are responsible for, or targeted by, hate crime – we are in the process of negotiating for this work to continue next year. Schools in North Somerset have become increasingly more diverse, and we’ve been working with schools to respond positively to this change and to empower staff to make classrooms a more inclusive place.
We’re funded by several Housing Associations, including Alliance and LiveWest who have lots of homes in North Somerset, to provide support for residents and staff, helping to create homes for people that are more tolerant and understanding.
Client Case STUDY
#011-2024/25 – Race Hate
Our client is originally from South Africa and now lives in North Somerset. He came to us after his neighbour made xenophobic comments towards him. He had been putting up a fence between their properties which the neighbour was unhappy about. Our client is autistic and doesn’t like to engage with people that he doesn’t know; when the neighbour overheard him speak to his girlfriend she directed a xenophobic comment at him.
The harassment escalated when another neighbour became involved. This neighbour began to make death threats towards our client and subjected him to further xenophobic abuse. This neighbour also made homophobic comments. Our client reported the incidents to both his Housing Association and the police but was struggling to get them to take him seriously.
We supported and advocated with our client, making sure he was taken seriously by the police and that they were treating the incidents as hate crimes and galvanised his housing association to help him deal with the perpetrator. The police invited the perpertrator to interview under caution. The housing association also began to take action, holding a case conference to discuss the abuse. They went on to issue a Notice of Seeking Possession and invited the neighbour who had been perpetrating the constant hate to conflict coaching.
Unfortunately, the abuse and harassment is ongoing, and we continue to support our client so that one day he will be able to live in his home, undisturbed, and without fear of hate.
I think SARI and Bill were very thoughtful and understanding. I would recommend SARI to anyone with similar issues as mine. Thank you.
– Client #101-2023/24
Somerset
Referrals received
Disablist referrals
Discrimination referrals
Mate crime referrals
Race referrals
Sexual orientation referrals
Transphobic referrals
Cases opened
Please note that the sum of the numbers above may be higher than the total
as referrals can include more than one hate crime type.
Our Work in the area
Somerset is the largest area (geographically) that we serve and is a predominantly rural county that also encompasses market and coastal towns. Behind its beautiful landscape, picturesque villages and popular tourist spots, Somerset has major pockets of deprivation and many of the people and families we support are very isolated. There is a lack of community resources and specialist provision for Black and Minority Ethnic, Faith, LGBTQ+ and Disabled communities and people. This is a challenge for SARI, as it can be harder to reach people in the more rural areas who may not have heard of our service but who desperately need our support. Last year, however, after sustained efforts by our team to deliver training and outreach, we saw a significant rise in referrals from local agencies such as the police.
Rumours of planned unrest during the August 2024 riots caused fear and concern amongst some of the communities we work with in Somerset. We attended a variety of English Conversation classes where, with the help of interpreters, we were able to connect with people during a time of fear and mistrust.
We were awarded funding to deliver our education interventions in six schools in Somerset, enabling us to go into schools that are in areas of higher deprivation. Somerset is becoming more diverse, which was especially reflected in the primary schools we went to, and it was wonderful to see students engaged and that they were viewing this as an opportunity for building their understanding.
CLIENT CASE STUDY
#138-2024/25 – Disablist Hate
Our Client has been disabled for most of her life due to an acquired injury. She lives in an accessible bungalow in Somerset. After lobbying Somerset Council for a disabled parking space due to not being able to walk long distances, she was granted one.
Our client came to us after neighbours on her street kept parking in her disabled parking spot. She ignored this for some time, avoiding confrontation and would just wait for them to move from her space before moving her car into it. One day, she found that someone had smeared dog faeces on the handle of her car, which she believed was a targeted incident because of her disability and people not understanding why she needed the space.
We arranged a meeting with her housing officer. We also worked with the police officer in charge of her case. They organised a beat surgery for the estate, which we attended to explain the support we offer and the importance of reporting hate. The police also completed a letter drop.
Alongside these actions, we contacted the local MP on our client’s behalf, asking them to look into the case. They are taking action to support local disability parking, including changing local laws so that fines can be applied for parking in public disabled spaces.
After the letter drop, which established the presence of the police and the severity of the crimes, our client hasn’t seen the perpetrators again. Her neighbourhood feels much safer now; in her words “everything is calm”.
Good is not a strong enough reflection of the support I received from (my caseworker). I very much appreciate the work that you and SARI as an organisation have done for me over the time we have worked together … that recognition, together with SARI’s unwavering support and protection of me, made a signification different to how I was able to face the degree of well-targeted abuse and disability hate directed towards me over the last four years.
– Client #249-2021/22
south Gloucestershire
Referrals received
Disablist referrals
Discrimination referrals
Faith referrals
Pregnancy and maternity referral
Race referrals
Sexual orientation referrals
Transphobic referrals
Cases opened
Please note that the sum of the numbers above may be higher than the total
as referrals can include more than one hate crime type.
our work in the area
South Gloucestershire, though largely rural, has a higher population density than the national average and saw the highest population increase in our service areas according to the latest census. It has lots of new housing developments and is growing in terms of enterprise. With this comes lots of new and diverse residents. This year was one of the highest reporting years we have seen for South Gloucestershire.
We are grateful to South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) for continuing to contribute to our hate crime and outreach preventative services, including our education work. Sadly, our South Gloucestershire Council funding is being significantly reduced after this year. We will get a much smaller contribution for our work in schools and are having the funding for our core hate crime services in the area nearly halved. We are busy fundraising so we can continue to meet the needs of the area and offer a free service to local schools. This is all the more important as we have seen an increase in hate incidents in schools, leading to rising demand for our specialist education interventions.
Our work with the Youth Justice Service has gone from strength to strength; our training, reflective conversations, and one to one support for young people responsible for hate incidents have a huge impact. This year we were awarded a significant new contract with South Gloucestershire Children’s and Adult Social Care. Funding SARI to this level demonstrates their willingness to prioritise and support services that tackle hate crime despite the ever-decreasing funding for Local Authorities. This programme launched in February and we will kick off next year with specialist sessions on disability and LGBTQ+ equality. We would also like to thank Bromford and Live West for funding our specialist work in this area.
Our dedicated team continued to be active in the area, working to increase awareness of our service. They delivered several awareness sessions for newly arrived communities, making sure that people know where to turn to if they experienced hate crime or hate incidents.
Client Case Study
#167-2024/25 – Race Hate
Our client, who lives in South Gloucestershire, is a teenager who came to us after years of racist verbal abuse from other students in her school year. She had had to endure comments and remarks about her hair and the colour of her skin, with the abuse following her from the school playground into the classroom. This led to the client becoming anxious and withdrawn from her family. One afternoon when walking home from school, the students targeted the client with further abuse and threatened to kill her. At this point the racist bullying had started to disrupt her learning at school.
After speaking with our client’s mother to understand the context of the referral, we contacted the police and the school for further information on how the incidents had been addressed. We spoke with the pastoral lead, who explained the school’s policies and measures that had been put in place to keep the client safe. We did work through the education team at SARI to have 1-1 sessions with one of the young people who’d been carrying out the bullying, but further intervention was hard without engagement from parents.
We then developed and delivered 1-1 sessions for the client aimed at empowerment, emotional support, and practical support. We covered the topics of identity, effective communication and advocacy skills, so that she could grow her confidence and stand up to incidents in a safe and effective way. We also provided the client with tips to improve her wellbeing, and help her deal with any emotions she may be feeling due to the abuse she has faced.
The client is much less withdrawn, calmer, and can focus on her schoolwork and day-to-day life without worrying about further abuse. Her confidence has grown, and she is able to effectively advocate for herself and others who may be experiencing similar incidents at school.
The whole process was good. There was good communication and that put me at ease. The school took on board what SARI said.
– Client #387-2020/21
Education: INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION
Sadly hate and prejudice-based incidents continue to be prevalent in education settings. Families come to us for support for their children and young people. This year, we opened 42 education-related cases, which made up 16% of our total caseload. This is the highest percentage of education cases on record for SARI. Of these, 7 were in post-16, 10 were in primary schools, 25 were in secondary schools.
This year we have been encouraged that more schools have referred young people directly, showing they are proactively tackling hate. Often these referrals come after we have delivered staff training, assemblies, or workshops in their organisations. Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire local authorities enabled us to offer such interventions free of charge while in Somerset, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and Somerset Community Foundation funded interventions for schools. In Bristol and elsewhere some schools have been able to find the funding to work with us to prevent hate.
Number of hate crime cases opened for children and young people
Number of schools we worked in
Number of teachers we trained
Number of children or young people that participated in one of our hate crime sessions
Cases opened in Primary schools
Cases opened in Secondary schools
Cases opened in Higher Education, College or University
CLIENT CASE STUDY
#122-2024/25 – Racist Bullying
Maya* came to us after her son was racially abused at school. There was a breakdown in communication from the school, and she only found out when her son retaliated. She arranged a meeting with the school, during which the focus seemed to be on her son’s behaviour, with little time and understanding given to the racial abuse that provoked it. Maya felt let down by the school, as they seemed more intent on blaming her child rather than appreciating the seriousness of and the impact of the racist incidents.
Maya was also concerned as, whilst the child responsible for the racism was sanctioned and forced to apologise, it became apparent that it wasn’t an isolated incident. There were no restorative conversations or education as to why the language he used led to this sanction.
When Maya came to us, she was understandably upset and frustrated at how the school had handled the incidents. We made a report to the police on her behalf. We had a meeting with the headteacher, during which we discussed the pattern of hate incidents. We helped them understand the gravity of the situation and encouraged them to separate hate and prejudice-based incidents from their bullying policy, to reflect that, due to their severity, incidents of hate and prejudice should be dealt with differently.
With both the police and the school, we focused on education and prevention rather than punishment. With the school’s agreement, we delivered an assembly to the year with the support of the PCSO in charge of the case. It provoked brilliant engagement from the children and, in Maya’s words, this “became a turning point.”
As a result of our close work with the school, they have now made the changes to separate hate and prejudice-based behaviour from their bullying policy, meaning that they have been able to adapt their sanctions following hate incidents. They have also incorporated a lot more education into these sanctions in order to prevent future incidents. Maya was very happy with the work we did to both support her and her son and to advocate for a broader change within the school community.
*Not their real name
Training: CREaTING UNDERSTANDING
Alongside our vital work responding to hate, we also work to prevent it happening in the first place. We use the experience we gain from supporting people targeted by hate to create relevant impactful training. We have delivered training in a huge range of settings, including groups for women seeking sanctuary, large statutory agencies such as social services, and small businesses. Language, bias, and cultural awareness continue to be popular topics of discussion. With the impact of hate having been particularly visible this year, more services are asking us to deliver training for staff to support them to support their service users who are impacted by hate. We are grateful to the funders who make this work possible, as well as the many clients who pay for our training directly.
total Training Sessions Delivered across all areas
Total number of training sessions attendees
Attendees felt more able to report hate crime after our session
Attendees had improved knowledge of agencies’ roles and responsibilities
Delegates had a greater understanding of the impact of hate crime
*Data from evaluations received as part of our National Lottery Funded Project
Every Victim Matters that ran from May 2024 to April 30th 2025.
Wonderful service. Desperately needed to bridge the gap between the police and disabled community.
– Vision North workshop attendee
Some of our other work
Empowerment Sessions
Whilst a great deal of our work in schools centres around shifting school culture so that staff and students know how to respond to hate, we also work with young people who have faced hate-based bullying at school. Our team offers 1:1 sessions to young people, ensuring that they have a safe space to turn to, someone who can advocate with them to ensure the hate is adequately addressed. The support doesn’t just focus on the incident(s) but also empowers the young person in their identity, which is vital in the aftermath of hate.
Offender Reduction Work
We also provide 1:1 sessions for young people responsible for hate incidents. This year we have experienced an increased demand from youth justice services and education providers for support for young people responsible for hate and prejudice-based incidents, particularly in the wake of the riots. What happens in the world around us impacts what happens in school playgrounds and university campuses.
Whilst our focus is always on those targeted, supporting those responsible for hate prevents further harm, inspiring change for the future. Alongside our staff, we work with our former chair who uses his lived experience of hate and his knowledge of coaching to deliver one-to-one support for young people.
We develop positive relationships using an approach centred around young people and which builds on their interests. In this context, young people realise the impact of their words and actions, developing respect for people who are different from themselves; this prepares them to flourish in our diverse communities.
our FUNDERS AND SUPPORTERS
SARI’s work would simply not be possible without the generosity and support of people, organisations, and funders across our communities. Some have been with us for many years, whilst others are newer partners, but each play a crucial role in enabling us to support people impacted by inequality and injustice across the region. We’re deeply grateful for your ongoing commitment – thank you.
- Alliance Homes
- Avon Fire and Rescue Service
- Avon and Wiltshire Partnership NHS Trust
- Bath and North East Somerset Council
- Brighter Places
- Bristol City Council
- Bristol Drugs Project
- Bristol Mind
- Bristol ProHelp/Quartet
- Bromford
- Burges Salmon
- Cabot Circus
- Commercial Property Advisors
- Clifton College
- Elim Housing
- Enterprise Mobility
- Eversheds Sutherlands
- Guildhall Chambers
- LiveWest
- Lloyds Bank Foundation
- Milestones Trust
- National Lottery Community Fund
- Nisbet Trust
- North Somerset Council
- Osborne Clarke
- Second Step
- South Gloucestershire Council
- Wesleyan Foundation
This list is not exhaustive, and there are many more supporters who, whilst not listed here, have made an incredible difference to the work we do.
our donors
Money raised through donations, individual giving and fundraising activities
£Subscribers – Donors that give each month
Donations received
Individual donors
Each year, we need to raise over £800,000 to fund the full range of our work. While a portion of this comes from local government, it never fully covers the support we provide to victims of hate crime, leaving a growing gap that must be filled through fundraising, individual donations, and regular giving. In the current economic climate, it never fully covers the resources needed to provide the support needed by those turning to us
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all donors and subscribers who contributed in 2024-25. Your generosity has directly enabled us to continue our vital work.
This year we saw an increase in donations overall with £19,908.26 made through Paypal and Stripe donations funded through individual giving. This is an increase of £2505.86 (12.6%) on 2023/2024 (£17,402.40) and our first increase since the huge wave of support received following the horrifying murder of George Floyd in 2020.
With costs increasing each year, we kindly ask that, if you’re able to donate to us or fundraise for us, please do so and help us continue to stand against hate.
100 runners against hate
In 2024–25, our 100 Runners Against Hate campaign saw 23 participants.
A significant number of these runners came from a group formed by staff from the Watershed and their friends, in response to the riots in the UK. A special mention goes to our CEO Alex Raikes’ sons, who were the top individual fundraisers in 2024–25.
We go into the new year with 7 runners signed up for Bristol Half Marathon or 10K and we are always looking for more people to take on a run or sporting event to raise money for our charity. Every particpant will recieve a free branded SARI running jersey. You can find out more and sign up for the campaign here.
Big Give Christmas Challenge
In December 2024, we took part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge, a match-funding campaign. We raised £1850 in pledges from supporters and were successful in securing a further £1850 in Champion Funds through the Big Give; these funds were then used to match fund any donations made between the 3rd-10th December. Overall, we raised £7425, exceeding our target.
Businesses supporting our work
Each year, businesses and organisations step up to support our charity because they share our core values and a commitment to making a positive difference in their communities. Often, this is driven by a desire to stand against the injustices they see around them and to show support and solidarity for affected communities.
In response to the riots in August 2024, many businesses chose to take positive action and stand against the hate by supporting our charity.
One remarkable example was Watershed’s CEO, Clare Reddington , who organised a sponsored walk between Bristol and Bath to raise funds for both SARI and Hope Not Hate. The walk quickly gathered a large group of Watershed employees, friends, and local supporters. This incredible effort by a group of over 21 people (and two dogs) raised £5520 with half of this total donated to SARI and the other half going to Hope Not Hate.
Another inspiring example came from Theo Wang, a Bristol-based letterpress printmaker who creates artwork under the name Print & Ephemera and as part of the Bristol Print Collective. Disturbed by the hateful and racist scenes during the far-right riots, Theo was determined to respond positively. He produced a limited edition series of custom art prints featuring the slogan “We are many, you are few, we are Bristol, who are you”, a powerful chant voiced by counter-protesters at the riots. Theo sold these prints through his website and other channels, raising an impressive £403, with all proceeds generously donated to SARI.
Both contributions will be invaluable in supporting our work with local victims of hate crime. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the businesses that, through their acts of solidarity and generosity, have shown the true strength of our communities and their commitment to standing up against hate. We are immensely grateful for their support and are always eager to connect with more businesses and organisations willing to help us continue our vital work.
Demonstrations by the far right in Bristol shook our staff, audience members and community. As part of Watershed’s response I wanted to plan something hopeful. To undertake an act that brought people together and supported causes connected to providing support and solutions. So I put out a call on social media and quickly got a brilliant band together to support Hope Not Hate and SARI—two organisations tackling the issues in quite different ways. Since seeing the brilliant work they do, I have continued supporting SARI personally ever since.
– Clare Reddington, Ceo, Watershed
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
It’s important to remember that behind every statistic is a real person — someone who has been singled out simply for who they are or what they believe. As you read through this section, try to hold onto that thought. It’s not always easy, but it might help you grasp the true scale and impact of the issues we’re facing.
How many cases did we open?
This graph shows the number of cases we opened in each calendar month throughout the year.
Generally speaking, we see a lot of incidents and cases referred to us during spring and summer, when people are out and about more, which often leads to conflict.
How many people did we support?
Hate crime has far-reaching effects beyond the original victim. Family members—if not directly affected—will see and feel the traumatic effects of hate crime. This year, we supported 621 people.
Support varies case by case, need by need. Some clients may not want action taken, but emotional support to help overcome the feelings that being the victim of hate crime or discrimination can cause. Distress, fear, anger, anxiety and depression are all common emotions we’ve supported our clients with in the past year.
People supported
Why were people targeted?
Here we break down all of the cases we opened by protected characteristic. Race is still the biggest category, making up 62% of our total caseload. Religion is often low because it can be difficult to tell whether people are being attacked because of their race or their faith, because these can be so closely connected.
Race
LGB
religion
Trans
disability
Other
What did our clients say about us?
For us, the most powerful and rewarding part of the work that we do, is hearing how we’ve helped our clients. Whether that’s giving them information, helping them find their own path, supporting them through their journey, or hearing they no longer live in fear. This is what makes our work worthwhile.
SARI wrote to my area manager and reminded them about the Equalities Act 2010 and the company’s policies and procedures on hate crime/incidents. The suspect was suspended whilst the investigation took place and he is no longer working for the company. I am very thankful to SARI for supporting me. Thank you.
– Client #131-2022/23
Thank you so much Mariya to being absolutely amazing. You gave me the safe space to be able to communicate my needs and go up and beyond for me. My life feels so much better. You’ve been absolutely amazing and I can’t thank SARI enough.
– Client #178-2024/25
Siful was very kind and understanding with what we went through. What people do really opened my eyes. Now I know my rights and how to deal with them.
– Client #367-2022/23
Alex really helped in giving my son the confidence in going to school. The whole family are very grateful for what Alex and SARI have done.
– Client #059-2024/25
Plans for the Future
Our plans for the future are guided by our Business Plan (to be completed by January 2026) and progress will be monitored through our annual Operations Plan which is reported on quarterly to the Board. Below are some of our key priorities for the coming period:
- Finalise and implement our new Case Management System (CMS) to enhance service delivery and partnership working.
- Produce a new Business Plan covering April 2026 – March 2031, ensuring it is completed by January 2026 and informed by current evaluation and stakeholder input.
- Commission and complete an external evaluation of our organisation and services by September 2025, using the findings to shape strategic planning and service improvements.
- Apply to the National Lottery Community Fund to secure funding that will grow our hate crime casework and schools programme, building on our existing successful services.
- Lead on the Bristol Impact Fund Round 3 (BIF3) application to secure continued funding for the Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Service (BHCDS) partnership.
- Submit a BIF3 application focused on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities, to improve services and support for these communities through targeted work.
- Recruit two new board members to strengthen governance and bring additional expertise and lived experience to support the organisation’s growth and strategic priorities.
Financial Information
As a charity, each year we’re required to send an annual return to the Charity Commission, reporting on our spending and income in the year. The accounts, which forms the basis of the return, are reviewed by an independent examiner, and submitted alongside a report by the board of trustees. Below is an abridged version of the full document, which is freely available at Companies House.
Statement of Financial activities
for the year ended 31 march 2025
| Unrestricted funds | Restricted funds | Total funds | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |||
| Income from: | |||||
| Donations | 46,349 | – | 46,349 | 58,682 | |
| Investment income | 15,123 | – | 15,123 | 18,265 | |
| Charitable activities | |||||
| Training and other income | 244,544 | – | 244,544 | 61,598 | |
| Grants and contracts | 20,000 | 448,869 | 468,869 | 542,658 | |
| Total | 326,016 | 448,869 | 774,885 | 681,203 | |
| | |||||
| Expenditure on: | |||||
| Charitable activities | 406,925 | 498,066 | 904,991 | 816,971 | |
| Total | 2 | 406,925 | 498,066 | 904,991 | 816,971 |
| | |||||
| Net income/(expenditure) | (80,909) | (49,197) | (130,106) | (135,768) | |
| Total funds brought forward | 1,098,204 | 65,323 | 1,163,527 | 1,299,295 | |
| Total funds carried forward | 1,017,295 | 16,126 | 1,033,421 | 1,163,527 |
Balance sheet as at 31 march 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | |
| Tangible assets | 3 | 389,562 | 396,115 | |
| | ||||
| Current assets | ||||
| Debtors and prepayments | 4 | 48,022 | 3,372 | |
| Cash at bank and in hand |
|
|
||
| | 718,571 | 819,019 | ||
| Current liabilities | ||||
| Creditors due within one year | 5 |
|
|
|
| | ||||
| Net Current assets |
|
|
||
| | ||||
| Net assets |
|
|
||
| | ||||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General funds | 6 | 221,619 | 221,619 | |
| Designated funds | 6 | 795,677 | 876,585 | |
| | ||||
| Restricted funds | 6 |
|
|
|
| | ||||
| Total funds | 1,033,421 | 1,163,527 |