Over the past few days, we’ve seen communities coming together to protect their neighbours against racism and Islamophobia. This is the Britain we see every day in our work: citizens willing to listen to each other, to hear different perspectives on difficult issues, celebrating our diverse backgrounds, religions, ethnicity and cultures, finding common ground, working together for our common future.

This is our country, standing up against a small group of extremists stirring up hatred and violence. We offer our love and solidarity to the minority groups whose safety and livelihoods are under threat - and to the communities up and down the UK showing what British values truly are.

Those in positions of power and influence who have - deliberately or inadvertently - used lies to create division, anxiety and conflict in communities must acknowledge responsibility and work to put things right.

There is much to do to make the UK fairer, greener, healthier, more resilient and more prosperous. The overwhelming majority of people reject hate and violence and want to do this together.

Sue Pritchard
Chief Executive, FFCC