Lesson video

Hello, my name's Miss Willow.

And I'm going to be your teacher for today's lesson.

Today's lesson is called "Rights and Responsibilities in our Community." And it fits into the unit Communities: Why is respect, understanding, and compassion important? During this lesson, we are going to be talking a little bit about discrimination.

So, for this lesson, we recommend that you have an adult with you.

If at any point you do feel worried or uncomfortable, it's important to close the screen and to speak to an adult that you trust.

Okay, let's make a start.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to explain how rights and responsibilities work together to build a safe community and describe practical steps to take when you feel unsafe.

Before we get started, we need to go over some ground rules, these help to make sure that everyone feels safe and comfortable during today's lesson.

First of all, Laura says that we need to listen to others.

"It's okay to disagree with each other, but we should always listen properly before we make any assumptions or before we decide how to respond.

When we disagree with someone else, it's important to challenge the statement and not the person themselves." Next, Andeep reminds us that we need to respect each other's privacy.

"It's okay to discuss examples or stories, but we shouldn't use any names or any descriptions that could identify anyone, including ourselves." If we want to share a story, we could refer to someone as my friend.

This means that we're not going to give away any identifying information.

Next, Izzy says that we can choose our level of participation.

"Everyone has the right to choose not to answer a question or to join in with discussion if they don't feel comfortable, and we should never put anyone on the spot." And Jacob says, "No judgement.

We can explore any beliefs and misunderstandings that we have about a topic without fear of being judged by others." We're now going to have a look at today's keywords.

First of all, we have rights.

These are the freedoms and protections that everyone is entitled to, like safety, equality, and free speech.

Next, we have discrimination.

This is when people are treated unfairly or differently because of things like their race, gender, or beliefs.

And finally, we have responsibilities.

These are the actions that we're expected to take to respect others and to follow the law.

Today's lesson is split into three learning cycles.

Our first learning cycle is called what rights do we all have in our community? Our second learning cycle is called what responsibilities do we have to others? And finally, in our last learning cycle, we're going to answer the question, what can I do to stay safe? Let's make a start on our first learning cycle.

What rights do we all have in our community? What do you think people need in order to feel safe and respected in the community? Maybe you want to talk to the people around you about this question or have a think to yourself.

Sophia says, "I think a strong community is where people feel safe, welcome, and where they're treated fairly." Police Officer Kofi says, "And that only works if people's rights are respected." Under the Human Rights Act 1998, everyone has the right to be safe, to speak freely without spreading hate, to practise their religion or beliefs, and to be free from discrimination.

These rights apply to everyone in the community, regardless of their age, background, or job.

Let's do a chat for understanding to see how you're doing so far.

Which of these is a protected right in a UK community? a, practising your religion or beliefs peacefully.

b, choosing to harass someone if you dislike them.

c, refusing to speak to anyone different from you, or d, saying anything you want, even if it's hate speech.

Which of these is a protected right in the UK community? Pause the video, talk to the people around you or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that the correct answer was a.

Practising your religion or beliefs peacefully is a protected right in a UK community.

No one should feel unsafe in their community.

This includes in public places, public transport, shops, and schools.

One of the most important rights is feeling safe from harassment.

But what exactly counts as harassment? Police Officer Kofi says that "It's not just physical harm; constant shouting, following someone, or messaging them nonstop could be considered to be harassment too.

Under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, it's unlawful to follow someone repeatedly to send threatening or unwanted messages or to cause alarm, distress, or fear.

Jack says, "When we all respect each other's rights, our community feels safer and stronger." And Police Officer Kofi says, "But remember, it's not just about rules.

It's about treating people how we would want to be treated." Let's do another check for understanding.

This time, I'd like you to decide if this statement is true or false.

Harassment is only a problem if it's physical.

Pause the video, talk to the people around you, or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that this is false, but why? You might have said that harassment can also be verbal or emotional.

It's anything that causes someone to feel scared, upset, or unsafe.

Well done if you got this right.

We're now moving on to your first practise task, and you can put all of your learning so far into practise.

For the first part of this task, I'd like you to list at least two rights protected by UK law.

Then I'd like you to name one law that protects these rights, and finally, I'd like you to provide one example of how someone might experience or use these rights in real life.

Pause the video, and we'll go through some model answers in a few minutes.

Okay, let's see what you might have said.

For our first task to list at least two rights protected by UK law, you might have said, the right to feel safe and the right to be free from discrimination.

For question two, name one law that protects these rights.

You might have said, the Human Rights Act 1998.

For the third task, provide one example of how someone might experience or use these rights in real life.

You might have said, someone experiencing verbal or online harassment has the right to report it and be protected from further harm.

Well done if your answers were anything like this.

Well done for your hard work in our first learning cycle.

We are now moving on to our second learning cycle.

What responsibilities do we have to others? Ms. Walsh says that "Rights only work when everyone in the community respects them.

This means that we all have responsibilities to each other too." Jack says, "So, being respectful is part of living in a fair community?" Ms. Walsh says that "Being responsible doesn't have to be difficult.

Our responsibilities don't just mean following the law.

They also include small everyday actions that help everyone around us to feel welcome and safe." Some examples of everyday kindness and responsibility within our communities may include not littering, not pushing through crowds or blocking pavements, keeping music or electronic devices volume down, avoiding swearing or shouting in public.

All of these actions helps to protect other people's rights to safety, peace, and dignity in shared spaces.

Police Officer Paula says that "Under the Public Order Acts 1986, it's unlawful to use threatening, abusive, or insulting behaviour in public." Some examples of behaviour that could break this law include shouting racist or sexist insults in a shopping centre, threatening someone at a bus stop, starting fights or aggressive arguments outside a restaurant or cafe.

Sometimes people's behaviour, even if it doesn't break the law, can make others feel unsafe, and this is when police have additional powers to help protect the community.

Under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, police officers can issue what's called a dispersal order if they believe that a group's behaviour may cause harassment, alarm, or distress to others or lead to crime or disorder.

Police officer Paula says that "Our job is to keep everyone in the community safe." Let's do another check for understanding.

What might cause police to issue a dispersal order? Is that a? Two people are walking to the park.

b, three people are having lunch in a cafe or c, five people are shouting and blocking an entrance.

Which of these situations might cause police to issue a dispersal order? Pause the video, talk to the people around you or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that c is correct.

Five people shouting and blocking an entrance could cause police to issue a dispersal order.

Well done if you got this right.

Jack says, "So even if my friends and I are just hanging out, we could be told to leave?" Police Officer Kofi says, "Yes, if the group is loud, intimidating, or blocking access to something, even if there's no violence, police can legally move you on for up to 48 hours." That means that they could ask you to leave and to go somewhere else.

Police Officer Kofi says that "If the police officer gives you an instruction, like to leave, to calm down or to move elsewhere, you are expected to follow it." Refusing to follow these instructions from a police officer can lead to being fined or arrested, getting a criminal record, being issued what's called a community protection notice, or a CPN and in some cases, being searched or detained if there's concerns about safety.

Let's do another check for understanding.

Is this statement true or false? You should ignore police instructions if you disagree with them.

What do you think? Pause the video, talk to the people around you, or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that this is false, but why? You might have said something like refusing to follow directions from a police officer may result in arrest or legal consequences, even if no crime has been committed.

Well done if you said this or something similar.

It's now time to move on to your second practise task, and well done for your hard work already.

For this task, I'd like you to write one paragraph explaining how acting responsibly in public spaces helps to protect everyone's rights.

Your paragraph should include two examples of responsible behaviour in places like a shopping mall, train station, or high street, one law that relates to public behaviour, and finally, an explanation of why this behaviour is important for a safe and respectful community.

Pause the video, and we'll go through a model answer in a few minutes.

Okay, let's see what your answer may have looked like.

Acting responsibly in public spaces helps everyone to keep safe and respected.

For example, speaking politely to shop staff and keeping noise low on public transport shows respect for others.

Under the Public Order Act 1986, using threatening or abusive behaviour in public is illegal.

When people behave responsibly, it protects others' rights and helps the community to feel safe and welcoming for everyone.

Well done if your answer was anything like this.

It's now time to move on to our final learning cycle.

What can I do to stay safe? Police Officer Kofi says that "Even in communities where people understand their rights and responsibilities, things can sometimes go wrong.

Knowing how to stay safe and get help protects both you and others.

When we all look out for each other and know how to get help, our whole community becomes stronger and safer.

Most of the time you'll be fine, but there are simple ways to lower risk, especially if you're out and about at night." Some ways to stay safe include planning your route in advance and sticking to well-lit busy streets.

Avoiding shortcuts through alleys or parks after dark, keeping valuables outta sight like digital devices, like laptops, and phones, telling a trusted adult where you are and when you'll be home and staying alert, for example, avoid being distracted by music and wearing headphones.

Some ways to stay safe if you're walking home alone in the dark, include walking along a well-lit street, using safe road crossings and following the highway code and sharing your location with a trusted adult so that they know where you are.

It's also important to keep valuables hidden, for example, in a bag.

When walking home alone in the dark, it's important to try to avoid walking along poorly lit alleyways and wearing headphones, as this means that you could be less alert to those around you.

It's also important to not have valuables out in the open.

For this check for understanding, I'd like you to fill in the blanks showing what to do and what to avoid when walking home alone in the dark.

So, walk along well-lit blank.

Share your blank with a trusted adult.

Avoid walking along poorly lit blank.

And avoid wearing headphones as you might be less blank.

Fill in the blanks to show what you should do and what you should avoid, when you are walking home alone in the dark.

Pause the video, and we'll go through the answers in a few minutes.

Okay, let's have a look and see what you might have said.

You might have said that you should walk along well-lit streets, share your location with a trusted adult and you should avoid walking along poorly lit alleyways, and you should avoid wearing headphones as you might be less alert.

Well done if you put these words in the right place.

Police Officer Kofi says that "If you feel like you're being followed or that you're being targeted, it's important to trust your instincts.

This is different from general safety, as you may be in immediate danger if you're being followed or targeted, so it's important to act quickly." In this situation, you should stick to busy areas.

You should cross the road confidently or change direction.

You could go into a shop, cafe, train station, or other public building, you could call or text a trusted adult to let them know where you are, and if it does feel really serious, you can call 999 in an emergency or 101 if it's not an emergency, but you would still like help.

Police Officer Kofi says that in this situation, "Don't worry about seeming rude or paranoid.

By taking confident action to stay safe, you're projecting strength, which may put off anyone who might be following you." Sometimes you might need help if you are in a public space, but you can't openly ask for it, especially if the person making you uncomfortable is with you or nearby.

There's something in the UK called Ask for Angela.

This is a code phrase that's used in many UK venues like pubs, shops, and some transport hubs, and this can help in this situation if you don't feel safe.

You can ask a member of staff; is Angela working? Staff are trained to recognise this phrase and to know that you need discreet help.

They will guide you to safety or contact the police if needed.

Sometimes staying safe means knowing what to do with people who are aggressive.

If someone shouts at you or tries to provoke you, it's natural to want to argue back, but that can escalate things fast.

Instead, it's important to walk away calmly, so don't engage or give them a reaction.

Find a safe space or approach a member of staff or security for help, and remember that staying calm keeps you safer and avoids conflict.

Police Officer Paula reminds us that "Responding aggressively or threatening someone back can lead to legal consequences for both sides, even if you didn't start it.

Let's do another check for understanding.

This time I'd like you to decide if this statement is true or false.

If someone says something offensive to another person in public, that person has the right to threaten them back.

What do you think? Is this true or false? Pause the video, talk to the people around you or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you say that this is false, but why? You might have said that everyone has the right to feel safe and to report abuse, but responding with threats or violence can break the law too.

People can stand up for themselves without putting others or themselves at risk.

Well done if your answer was anything like this.

We are now moving on to our final practise task.

For this task, I'd like you to read each scenario and explain how each of these people should respond to stay safe in this situation.

Situation number one, Ella is out on a date with someone she's just met.

They're making her feel uncomfortable and she wants to leave safely.

Situation two, Jamal is waiting at a bus stop when someone starts shouting at him and threatening to fight.

And situation three, Mason is walking home alone after a late shift.

It's dark and Mason is thinking about cutting through an alley to get home faster.

Can you explain how each of these people should respond to stay safe in each of these situations? Pause the video, and we'll go through some answers in a few minutes.

Okay, let's see what you might have said.

For Ella's scenario, where she's on a date with someone she's just met, they're making her feel uncomfortable, and she wants to leave safely, you might have said that Ella could use the phrase, Ask for Angela with a member of staff so that they can discreetly help her and ensure that she leaves safely.

This will help her to stay safe because staff are trained to help and it avoids confrontation.

For the second scenario, Jamal waiting at a bus stop when someone's threatening him and shouting at him.

Jamal should stay calm, walk away without responding, and go somewhere safe like a shop or busy area.

He should also report what happened to the police or another trusted adult.

This will help him to stay safe because reacting could escalate the situation.

For the third scenario, Mason walking home after a late shift, it's dark, and Mason is thinking about cutting through an alley to get home faster.

You might have said that instead, Mason should stick to well-lit busy streets and avoid shortcuts through alleyways.

Mason should also tell a trusted adult that they're on their way.

This will help him to stay safe because it reduces his risk of potentially being followed, threatened, or robbed.

Well done if your answers were anything like this.

We are now going to summarise the key learning from today's lesson.

In today's lesson, we've learned that everyone has the right to feel safe, to be treated fairly, and to be free from discrimination in public spaces.

The Equality Act 2010 and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 helped to protect these rights.

We all have a responsibility to respect others to follow the law and to protect the rights of our community.

When we understand both our rights and our responsibilities, we can work together to create stronger and more welcoming communities.

It's important to remember that if you feel unsafe, you can use strategies like walking in well-lit areas, avoiding conflicts, and using Ask for Angela to get help.

And in an emergency, you can call 999 and ask for the police.

Well done for your hard work in today's lesson.

During this lesson, you might have found that you've got some worries or some questions, and if you do, it's important to talk to a trusted adult about how you feel.

There's also a resource on the screen that's there to help you too.

Well done for your hard work today.

I hope to see you in another lesson soon.