A HATE crime awareness charity is spreading its message to primary school children.

An education worker at the Haslingden-based Sophie Lancaster Foundation, which was given £29,000 from the Big Lottery Fund in conjunction with the Lancashire Telegraph in February, has been visiting younger pupils to talk to them about prejudices and stereotypes.

The charity was set up in memory of Sophie Lancaster, 20, who was killed in a gang attack because she dressed differently.

Her mum and the organisation’s found Sylvia said it was important to raise the hate crime issue with younger children before they got to secondary school.

She said: “Our education worker Lisa Bennett has been to four primary schools in East Lancashire.

“We are looking at stereotypes with them and making our programme more accessible to younger people.

“It seems to have been really successful so far and the reaction has been excellent.

“We are hoping the sessions will stay with the children throughout the rest of their lives.”

It comes as a leading researcher from Lancaster University made recommendations to Lancashire Police to ensure victims have the confidence to report issues to the police.

Dr Paul Ignaski’s report said third-party reporting arrangements managed by trusted community organisations should be established specifically for religiously aggravated crimes.

He also recommended the Lancashire Strategic Hate Crime Group explore the provision of hate crime bystander training for public sector employers in the county, so they can support hate crime victims immediately following incidents, and review the process of providing feedback to victims.

Chief superintendent Stuart Noble said children were often the perpetrators of hate crimes and police have promised to do targeted work with young people to try to tackle the issue.

He said: "It is unacceptable that in 2014 people are still victimised because they are perceived as being different.

"Interestingly this report has established that individuals are rarely targeted because of their religion but instead because of their appearance or behaviour, with many incidents being entirely opportunistic and involving verbal abuse. Sadly children also feature amongst the perpetrators.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw added: "It is part of my pledge to ensure communities feel safe and victims of hate crime should not feel they will be treated differently from anyone else.

“The recommendations which have been made as a result of Dr Iganski's report are aimed at addressing that, and I welcome them.”