Croydon College students took to the stage at the Whitgift Centre to raise awareness about hate crime yesterday.

Fifteen performing arts students put on a 20 minute production about hate crime which was their interpretation of a yearlong workshop with Croydon Council.

Students who were involved in the workshops devised a play which was then given to the performing arts department.

Carl Parker, from the Safer Croydon Partnership Unit, who ran the hate crime awareness programme, said it was a worthwhile project.

He said: "We wanted to show the impact hate crime has on people’s lives. It was the second time I have run the programme and I thought it went well.

"I think it is essential that people learn about hate crime. It is motivated by prejudice and hostility and there are a lot of aspects to it.

"The students really engaged with what they were doing. It was extra -curricular so it was their choice to come in and learn more about it.

Kathleen Hawke, the student's teacher at Croydon College, said: "The whole thing is showing that we aren't just doing the daily things but we are trying to make a slight difference. Even if it is one small step.”