We Stand Together

We Stand Together is a UK-based charitable organization registered under the charity number 1175945. It is primarily active in the Greater Manchester area and focuses on promoting social cohesion and combating discrimination.

History

We Stand Together was established following significant global events, such as the Paris attacks in 2015, and became a registered charity after the Manchester Arena attack in May 2017. The charity's foundational principle is that society becomes stronger when communities unite, regardless of their cultural, political, or religious differences.

Mission and Objectives

The organization's mission is threefold:

• Celebrate Differences: To promote appreciation and understanding of diverse identities within communities.
• Combat Hate and Intolerance: To challenge and reduce hatred and discrimination in all forms.
• Build a Safer and Stronger Country: To foster a more inclusive and harmonious society.

Core Work

We Stand Together engages in several key initiatives:

• Quarterly Difficult Dialogues: These involve bringing people together to discuss contentious issues such as faith, sexuality, gender, politics, class, race, and equality.
• #YouthStand Together Initiative: This program develops resources, events, and workshops with schools and youth groups to challenge social stereotypes and prejudice.
• #WeStand Together Column: A bi-weekly column in the Manchester Evening News aimed at educating the public about diversity and challenging hate.
• Hate Crime Awareness Events: These events unite diverse groups to challenge hate and encourage action within communities.
• #WeStand Together Month in May: An initiative for local groups to organize cohesion and hate-challenging events.
• Community Conflicts: Collaboration with partner organizations to address conflicts within different communities.
• A Shared Future: Working with the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Office to prevent hateful extremism and promote social cohesion.
• Celebratory Events: Organizing events to celebrate diversity and build mutual understanding and respect.

Impact

By focusing on community cohesion and challenging discrimination, We Stand Together plays a significant role in making the UK a more inclusive and safer place for all its residents. The organization's work has been recognized and valued, particularly in commemorating significant events like the Manchester Arena attack, which highlighted the need for stronger community ties.

[1] https://www.westandtogether.org.uk [2] https://www.westandtogether.org.uk/about [3] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5107592 [4] https://manchestercommunitycentral.org/contacts/view/232905 [5] https://www.standingtogether.org.uk