COLLEGE students in Suffolk will be taking part in racial awareness workshops to address the growing number of race hate crimes amongst young people.Ipswich and Suffolk Council for Racial Equality (ISCRE) said it was investing in changing attitudes of young adults to prevent future problems from developing.

COLLEGE students in Suffolk will be taking part in racial awareness workshops to address the growing number of race hate crimes amongst young people.

Ipswich and Suffolk Council for Racial Equality (ISCRE) said it was investing in changing attitudes of young adults to prevent future problems from developing.

Jane Basham, director of ISCRE, said: “A significant proportion of those who committee race crime are aged 18 to 30.

“Sometimes people say that you can't change older people's attitudes but think there won't be as many problems with younger people.

“But we actually have a younger people who are committing the crimes and it is something we need to tackle.

“I think it just shows how racism is still prevalent within our society.”

As a result of the increasing numbers ISCRE has set up a series of workshops in colleges to complement work going on a school level.

Ms Basham added: “There is not a lot going on in colleges and because of the concerns we thought lets raise awareness of this and keep the message going about how unacceptable racism is once people have left school.

“It's not about saying young people are racist, it's about talking to them.”

So colleges around Suffolk, including Otley College and Suffolk New College, will be running two-hour workshops funded by the Council for Racial Equality.

The sessions will use drama to explore issues of race and encourage students to openly discuss and debate the issue of race harassment and discrimination.

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