learn, advocate, transform

Independent Hate Crime Advocate Course

A CPD-accredited training that will give you the confidence, tools, and expert knowledge to provide high-quality hate crime advocacy. 100% of previous learners who provided feedback, would recommend the IHCA course to others.

Over 14 weeks, we'll work with you to explore best-practice approaches to prevent harm, reduce risk, and respond safely to hate incidents. 

Built from the UK's largest and most robust ‘by-and-for’ knowledge base on hate, this nationally available qualification will build a network of professionals who can provide expert hate crime support.

Independent Hate Crime Advocate
(IHCA) Qualification

Our goal is simple: to ensure specialist and equitable treatment for all victims and survivors of hate, and to equip professionals with the tools, knowledge, and trauma-informed perspective to make that vision a reality.
Galop is proud to have co-designed the UK's first Independent Hate Crime Advocate (IHCA) course, in partnership with leading organisations from across the hate crime sector: Tell MAMA, CST, The Monitoring Group, Choice in Hackney, Stay Safe East and East European Resource Centre.

Together, we can change the response to hate crime.
 
This ground-breaking, nationally available course is delivered by leading hate crime support organisations, and draws from the largest and most robust 'by-and-for' knowledge base on hate in the UK. 

By the end of this 14-week course, you will:

- Be equipped with an in-depth knowledge of hate crime in the UK 
- Have the skills, confidence, and intersectional understanding needed to support people who have experienced hate
- Understand each of the five strands of hate crime, as recognised in law
- Have completed scenario-based best practice approaches 
- Understand how hate incidents could affect your organisation and why early, informed intervention reduces harm and escalation
- Receive a professional qualification which shows that you are able to deliver high quality, effective interventions for victims of hate-based incidents

hours of learning
Format

Part-time, online

Length

14 weeks

Type

Qualification

Cost

£2250.00

Live Learning Dates
______________________

  • Session 1 - Friday March 26th 
  • Session 2 - Friday April 9th 
  • Session 3 - Friday April  23rd 
  • Session 4 - Friday May 7th 
  • Session 5 - Friday May 21st
  • Session 6- Friday June 4th 
  • Session 7 - Friday June 18th
  It not only increased my knowledge of hate crime and advocacy but also helped me think about how I would apply that learning in real-life situations, particularly around risk assessment, safety planning, professional challenge, and multi-agency working. 

Overall, the course has reinforced the importance of survivor-led, trauma-informed, and intersectional practice.  
IHCA 2026 Learner

Why An Expert Knowledge of Hate Crime Matters 

IHCA course sections

Introduction to Hate

Day one grounds learners in what hate is, how it operates, and why advocacy matters, introducing trauma-informed practice, intersectionality, and power. Participants begin critical self-reflection on positionality while forming action learning groups that will support them throughout the course.

Hate Crime Law and Criminal Justice Sytems

Day two builds learners’ confidence in navigating hate crime law in England and Wales, including reporting pathways, hostility, sentencing uplifts, victims’ rights, and CPS and court processes. Learners develop the skills to explain complex criminal justice systems clearly and accessibly, enabling effective advocacy.


Anti-LGBT+ Hate and Disability Hate

On day three, learners will deepen their understanding of anti-LGBT+ and disability hate by exploring lived experiences, systemic exclusion, and compounded vulnerability. Practical advocacy skills are strengthened through applied scenarios that centre person-led support.

Racist Hate and Faith Based Hate

Day four centres racism and faith-based hate, exploring how structural inequality shapes victims’ experiences and responses from institutions. Learner’s practice designing response plans that consider safety, power, and justice.

Non-Criminal Justice Advocacy Approaches

On day 5, learners will explore advocacy beyond the criminal justice system, including creative approaches, complaints processes, and professional challenging. The day highlights gaps in hate crime law and centres the experiences of underrepresented communities. 

Hate Crime Advocacy Best Practices

For day 6, learners spend the day practicing skills through hands-on case exercises with feedback, and reflection. The emphasis is on real-world application, empathetic decision-making, and effective communication.

Live Assessment Day and Course Closure

This final session brings together all course learning outcomes through a final live assessment and cohort debrief on best practices and future learning. Participants complete the programme ready to support victims of hate with confidence, and care.

Hate crime is on the rise, but we don’t have to accept it.   

—————

A new response to hate

Hate crime continues to rise across the UK, causing lifelong impacts across protected groups and communities.

With this course, we aim to build a national network of professionals who can:
  • Respond confidently and empathetically to victims and survivors.
  • Apply an intersectional lens to every case.
  • Promote equitable treatment across all protected groups.
  • Drive meaningful, systemic change through advocacy.
  • By working together, we can build a future where every victim and survivor of hate feels recognised, valued, and protected.

Intersectional by design

The UK's first Independent Hate Crime Advocacy course
In partnership with Tell MAMA, CST, The Monitoring Group, Choice in Hackney, Stay Safe East and East European Resource Centre, we have co-designed the UK’s first specialist hate crime advocacy course.

We want to ensure all professionals advocating for victims and survivors of hate have the confidence, tools, and knowledge to offer a meaningful and trauma-informed response to the ever-rising levels of hate.  

Uniquely built from the UK’s most robust ‘by and for’ knowledge base on hate crime, this course is meaningfully intersectional and revolutionary. 



IHCA expert partners

Action Learning Approaches

Build Confidence
You Can Share

Gain confidence navigating complex systems, including hate crime reporting pathways, police investigations, court processes, and specialist support services.

Learn to invite others into your lens of hate too! 

Hate is not limited to one setting.

Who is IHCA for? Everyone.

Hate can show up in hospitals, workplaces, public transport, universities, shops, events, online, and at home, which means every professional in any client or customer-facing industry should be prepared to recognise and respond to hate.

Hate crime advocacy skills can be change making for NHS staff, police and probation services, support workers and advocates, tech sector professionals, HR leads, retail staff, and VAWG professionals, and anyone working under the Victims’ Code. Hate is far reaching so our responses need to be too.

Evidence your knowledge

Become a Subject Matter Expert

An IHCA qualification can help position you as a subject expert on hate, able to support both your organisations development and victims understanding of their rights.

You’ll learn to apply trauma-informed, person-centred and intersectional approaches that improve safety, trust and outcomes for victims of hate crime.

Develop transferable skills.

Expand Career Opportunities

By becoming an IHCA, you'll be achieving an recognised qualification that enhances professional credibility, employability and progression into specialist or leadership roles.

What Previous Learners Are Saying about IHCA  

IHCA Learner

"The discussions and shared learning from other participants were equally beneficial and helped broaden my understanding of different perspectives and approaches.

Overall, the course has increased my confidence, strengthened my knowledge, and provided practical skills that I can apply directly to my work supporting victims and survivors of hate crime."

IHCA Learner

"I really enjoyed that it was interactive with discussions and activities throughout the live sessions, rather than just listening to the facilitator talk all day.

I found the course both informative and thought-provoking. It encouraged me to look beyond the incident itself and consider the wider experiences, needs, and vulnerabilities of survivors."

IHCA Learner

"The course provided a strong balance between theory and practice.

It not only increased my knowledge of hate crime and advocacy but also helped me think about how I would apply that learning in real-life situations, particularly around risk assessment, safety planning, professional challenge, and multi-agency working."