To coincide with National Safeguarding Adults Week (19-23 November), we’re recognising three people supported at an Hft service in Bradford who have bravely shared their personal experiences of hate and mate crime in a video produced in partnership with the NSPCC.

While most people have heard of hate crime, mate crime is a lesser known form of abuse where vulnerable people are seemingly befriended and then abused, exploited or taken advantage of. People with learning disabilities are particularly vulnerable to hate and mate crime.

Ten years ago, when hate and mate crime were beginning to come to the public’s attention, people now supported by Hft were approached to participate in a video project in partnership with the NHS and the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA), an initiative dedicated to bringing professional education into communities. The organisations wanted to provide information on what hate and mate crime is, how to spot it, and how to report it.

This led to the production of a DVD in which people who had experienced hate and mate crime shared their stories. Featured in the film were eight adults with learning disabilities.

These people, known as the Open Doors Group, presented the video at schools and colleges, making a hugely positive impact on the community.

Ten years on, and the NSPCC has approached Hft to revisit the stories of some of the Open Doors Group. A new and updated video featuring the same three people supported by Hft, setting out to provide updated and vital guidance and information for use in training at both the NSPCC and Hft is now in production.

Maxine Kneeshaw, Area Manager at Hft Bradford, comments:

“People with learning disabilities can be particularly vulnerable to hate and mate crime as they can find it more difficult to identify people with bad intentions, who often set out to abuse and exploit vulnerable people. We hope that the new video will have as strong an impact as it did ten years ago, providing a valuable resource and encouraging people struggling to speak out. “

National Safeguarding Adults Week is a newly launched awareness week organised by the Ann Craft Trust. Every day focuses on a different safeguarding adults at risk issue, with Monday 19 November revolving around disability hate crime.

Hft Bradford supports people with many different types of learning disability, and has specialist support services for people with autism, and with challenging behaviour and complex needs. Hft Bradford also supports people into employment, vocational training projects, and learning and leisure projects, as well as offering specialist advice and support to young people leaving school or college who will need support from adult services.

View Hft’s safeguarding page for more information and resources