a birds eye view on hate crime

A Bird’s Eye View on Hate Crime is a creative awareness campaign developed by LGBTQIA+ volunteers from across Forth Valley, led by Creative Stirling and artist, David Galletly. Inspired by real community voices and experiences, the project uses animation, art, and storytelling to explore where hate comes from, how it spreads, and how we can challenge it.

Through the metaphor of birds, symbols of freedom, diversity, and perspective, the campaign shows how our environments shape attitudes and how even small actions can make a big difference. It encourages empathy, understanding, and safe action: to report, educate, and learn together to prevent hate.

Watch the animation below, download our campaign flyer, and learn about the root and impact of hate. You can also find out how to report hate crimes, explore organisations and apps that offer support, and discover the creative journey behind the campaign.

TOGETHER WE PREVENT HATE

download & share our campaign flyer

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FLYER PDF

together we prevent hate

stop the hate

A hate crime is any crime that is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by prejudice against someone because of a protected characteristic or perceived characteristic, including:
- Disability
- Race or ethnicity
- Religion or belief
- Sexual orientation
- Transgender identity
- Age
- Variations in sex characteristics
Hate crimes can happen in person or online, and may involve violence, threats, harassment, or other forms of abuse. They often stem from a lack of understanding, empathy, or appreciation for diversity, which can escalate into harmful actions.
Anyone can be targeted by a hate crime, even if they are not part of a marginalised group. Sometimes people are targeted because they are perceived to belong to one of these groups. Hate crimes can have serious emotional, social, and psychological impacts on victims, their families, and the wider community. They can create fear, distrust, and division, affecting not only those directly involved but everyone around them. Everyone is affected by hate.
Hate crimes can arise from a variety of factors, including:
- Thrill-seeking, retaliation, or a perceived “mission”: committing harm for excitement, revenge, or a sense of purpose.
- Learned behaviours or beliefs: adopting language, ideas, or prejudices from home, culture, or background.
- Othering and lack of understanding: failing to appreciate or respect differences in identity, culture, or diversity.
Understanding these root causes can help communities challenge prejudice and prevent hate before it escalates.
You can report a hate crime while it is happening or after the incident. There is no time limit for making a report.
- Emergency (immediate danger): Call 999
- Non-emergency: Call 101, visit your local police station, or report it online using the Police Scotland Online Reporting Form
Reporting helps protect communities, ensures action can be taken, and sends a clear message that hate has no place in society.
The best way to combat hate is through action and understanding:
- Learn about and celebrate other cultures
- Share knowledge and teach others
- Report hate crimes if you are a victim or witness
- Offer support to those affected by hate crimes
Only challenge or call out someone’s behaviour when it is safe to do so; your safety comes first.
Together, we can create a safer, more inclusive society.
To reduce prejudice and challenge negative thoughts:
- Recognise negative thoughts: notice them without judgement.
- Practice mindfulness: observe your thoughts and feelings calmly.
- Replace with positive or informed thinking: learn about the people or communities you may hold biases against.
- Educate yourself: research, read, and engage with diverse perspectives to broaden understanding.
Small, conscious steps can help shift attitudes, break cycles of prejudice, and create a more inclusive environment for everyone.

report hate

You can report a hate crime while it is ongoing or after the incident — there is no time limit for making a report. Reporting helps protect others, ensures action can be taken, and sends a clear message that hate has no place in our community.

Emergency (immediate danger): Call 999
Non-emergency: Call 101, visit your local police station, or report it online using the Police Scotland Online Reporting Form

Taking action by reporting is an important step toward safety, justice, and positive change for the whole community.

find out more

Important note: While reporting anonymously can feel safer and more comfortable, it can make it harder for the police to investigate and secure a conviction. Without a named witness, there may be limited evidence available, and the police may be unable to follow up directly with the person who reported the crime. Find out more here:

SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS

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CENTRAL SCOTLAND REGIONAL EQUALITY COUNCIL

CSREC promotes equality and human rights for people from ethnic minority communities across Central Scotland. They provide advice, advocacy, and training to help individuals who experience discrimination or hate incidents. Through their work, CSREC supports people to understand their rights, challenge prejudice, and build confidence and resilience within their communities.

VICTIME SUPPORT SCOTLAND

Victim Support Scotland is a national charity offering free and confidential support to anyone affected by hate crime, no matter when the incident occurred. They provide practical advice, emotional support, and guidance through the justice system, helping people feel heard, informed, and empowered.

CRIME STOPPERS

Crimestoppers is an independent charity where you can anonymously report individuals involved in hate crime without having to go directly to the police. All reports are treated in strict confidence, ensuring your identity is protected.

STOP HATE UK

Stop Hate UK is a national charity offering confidential and independent support to anyone affected by hate crime or discrimination. They provide a 24-hour helpline, online reporting, and emotional assistance to help individuals feel heard, supported, and empowered to take action.

GALOP

Galop provides confidential support for LGBT+ people who have experienced hate crime, abuse, or discrimination. You can reach out through their helpline, complete a referral form for one-to-one assistance, or use their webchat service to access trusted information and resources at any time.

TELLMAMA

Tell MAMA supports anyone across the UK who experiences or witnesses anti-Muslim hate. You can report incidents of abuse, discrimination, or hostility linked to your Muslim faith—or because someone perceives you to be Muslim. Their team offers confidential advice, practical assistance, and emotional support.

PERSONAL SAFETY APPS

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Noonlight:
Connects you directly to local authorities during emergencies. If you release the app’s safety button without entering your PIN, it automatically sends help to your location.

My Safetipin:
Uses crowdsourced data to rate the safety of public spaces, helping users find safer routes and areas. It also allows users to share feedback to improve city safety for everyone.

bSafe:
Lets you share your location with trusted contacts, stream live audio and video during emergencies, and send alerts. It also includes a fake call feature to help you leave unsafe situations.

Red Panic Button:
With one tap, it sends your GPS location via text and email to your emergency contacts, making it quick and simple to alert others when you’re in danger.

Personal Safety by Google:
Built into many Android devices, it stores medical info and emergency contacts for lock-screen access. It can share your real-time location, record video in emergencies, and even detect car crashes or trigger SOS alerts automatically.

meet the cast

perpetrator

Shaped by their environment and the influences around them, this bird spreads hate without realising the full impact of its actions. In the final scene, it is left reflecting: a moment that invites the viewer to consider whether change will come.

witness

Small but courageous, the robin symbolises those who choose to act. They step in to support the victim, showing how even the smallest voices can make a big difference.

victim

A bird targeted for being different, representing those who experience prejudice or hate. Their story highlights the emotional and social impact of exclusion, but also the courage to be proud of who they are. Supported by allies and small acts of kindness, the victim’s journey reflects resilience, hope, and the power of community in helping individuals embrace their identity and find their place.

allies

The vibrant, diverse birds seen at the end of the story represent unity, understanding, and inclusion. Each bird is unique in colour and form, symbolising the richness that diversity brings to a community. Together, they embody hope — showing that when we celebrate our differences and stand side by side, we create spaces where everyone can belong, be valued, and thrive.

influenced

Initially drawn into negative behaviour, this bird begins to question its actions after seeing the harm caused. By choosing compassion over hate, it symbolises reflection, growth, and the power to change.

influence

Representing generational and environmental influence, they show how prejudice and bias are often learned behaviours, but also how awareness and education can help break the cycle.

Project purpose & Development

A Bird’s Eye View on Hate Crime was created in response to a growing need: more young people across Forth Valley were experiencing hate crime and often felt unsure about reporting it. Through the animation, exhibition, flyers, and webpage, the campaign explores where hate comes from, why it persists, and how communities can work together to challenge it.

The campaign encourages dialogue, safe action, and learning, helping people feel confident to speak out, support others, and challenge prejudice in both their everyday lives and within themselves. By sharing stories, raising awareness, and creating space for reflection, it aims to strengthen communities, build understanding, and show that change is possible. It highlights that everyone can make a difference, and that taking action, no matter how small, helps create a more inclusive and welcoming society.

The project grew out of a series of creative development sessions, where volunteers explored multiple ways to tell the story, from coffee and role reversal to social media, inanimate objects, planets, and even slime. After experimenting with different symbols, the team decided that birds offered the richest metaphor for freedom, diversity, and perspective.

To develop the characters and animation, the volunteers worked closely with artist David Galletly, creating multiple character maps and storyboards. Early ideas included doves to represent elegance, pigeons to explore unfair labelling, and parrots to illustrate how prejudice is often repeated from the environment. Through trial and reflection, the team refined the story, deciding to use a variety of birds to explore different perspectives: the victim, the witness, and the offender.

The project was created by Creative Stirling Volunteers Matthew, Nathaniel, Quinn, Erin, Tobi, Dream, Victor, and Carl, alongside staff and volunteer youth workers Sam, Lou, and Ciaran, in collaboration with David Galletly. We ran volunteer sessions twice a week, during which they designed the animation, flyers, exhibition, and webpage, learning new skills in character design, ProCreate animation, and visual storytelling. These sessions fostered collaboration, creativity, and reflection, resulting in a campaign that highlights empathy, awareness, and community action.

A huge thank you to all the volunteers for bringing their creativity, passion, and vision to this project. Your hard work and dedication made this campaign possible.

See the development work below to learn more about the creative process and how the animation, characters, and campaign materials came together.

Report. Educate. Learn. Together we prevent hate.

get in touch with us

It is our goal to expand this project in 2026 and work with more individuals who experience barriers. If you would like to get involved as a participant or partner, learn more, or share any recommendations to improve our campaign, please get in touch using the contact details below.

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