YOUNG people from Bolton shared their experiences of hate crime to produce a powerful new video aimed at stamping it out.

Students of AFC Masters Academy produced and feature in the film which discusses the issue and how it can be tackled in a new training video designed to raise awareness of the crime and help organisations throughout Bolton to understand the impact it has and what can be done.

Bolton-based AFC Masters — a football team for people with disabilities — opened a new Lottery-funded academy in September to help those with disabilities develop life skills and have a chance to experience and find out about different jobs.

The film was made following a talk to students at the academy about safety — and it highlights what is happening to Bolton's young people in Bolton through acted out scenarios with a message about what people who have experienced hate crime can do.

Iain Massingham, academy co-ordinator, said: "The lads have come across various incidents, from people making comments in the street or comments on facebook to actually being physically assaulted.

"Sometimes people are unaware they are the victims of a crime so we discussed mate crime too where vulnerable people in society can be taken advantage of those they believe are friends.

"Through working with Daniel Ladd and the community safety team, and together with Box TV we hope that the film the lads have produced can reach out to others and they can learn from the scenarios in the piece and hopefully this will make people more aware of hate crime.

"We also want it to change the behaviour of the perpetrators and maybe make them think twice before engaging in such behaviour. "

He added: "AFC Masters are not just a football club, we are an organisation that cares deeply for our players — all of whom have a disability and live locally.

" We are very passionate about disabled children and adults being very much part of the Bolton community and through work such as this are players are proving that they are positive role models for our town.

"If anyone would be interested in finding out more about helping with AFC Masters or playing for us please email afcmastersbolton@gmail.com or phone 01204 337109. "

Chris Middleton, aged 21, from Bolton said: “I thought that the film was important. It was about hate crime.

"The film will show people how it’s not ok and I hope that many people get to see it.

" AFC Masters were asked to do the film and I helped with the directing”

The club and the academy can be followed on @AFCMasters