Salford Council has faced criticism after allocating £600,000 of community cohesion funding in response to the Heaton Park Synagogue attack without giving any of the money directly to Jewish organisations.
The Home Office provided the council with part of a £2m grant as part of the long-term recovery from the deadly terrorist attack during Yom Kippur in September last year, in which Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby lost their lives. According to a council report approved on September 22, the money is intended to fund projects that 'challenge direct and indirect antisemitic and racist rhetoric' and improve community cohesion.
Funding allocation criticised
The cash will be used to fund a range of charity and community organisations. However, the allocation has come under fire from local councillors and members of the local Jewish neighbourhood safety team Shomrim.
Councillor Andrew Walters, who represents Kersal & Broughton Park, which has a large Orthodox Jewish community, said: “I am disappointed that not a single penny of the £600,000 allocation has been directly allocated to Shomrim or to a Jewish community organisation. This funding was provided following the horrific antisemitic terrorist attack at Heaton Park Synagogue, and the Council’s own report says the recovery plan was developed to support Jewish communities in rebuilding confidence and resilience. Yet when you look at the proposed spending, there is no dedicated funding for a Jewish organisation.
“There are undoubtedly worthwhile projects in the programme, and this should not be about setting communities against each other. But when funding is provided in response to an antisemitic terrorist attack, I think it is reasonable to expect that at least some of it should directly support the Jewish community that was targeted.”
Shomrim expresses disappointment
Meir Factor, the Executive Director of Shomrim, a voluntary safety patrol that works in partnership with GMP, added: “We are very grateful that the Cabinet has approved funding for cohesion projects across the city. However, we are surprised and disappointed that we have not been consulted as part of this process, particularly given our longstanding role as a leading organisation in community cohesion.
“The recent news that a terrorist attack was thwarted further highlights the importance of the work we and other community organisations undertake. Building trust, strengthening relationships between communities and creating safe environments where people feel connected and supported are all essential elements of preventing division and promoting community resilience.”
The decision came just as news was breaking that a planned antisemitic attack had been intercepted in Manchester city centre in a joint operation between the London Metropolitan Police and GMP. Specialist Counter Terrorism officers made two arrests in the Northern Quarter and later searched a hostel in Salford as part of an ongoing investigation.
Council responds
Responding to the criticism, a Salford City Council spokesperson said: “We fully recognise the profound impact of the antisemitic terrorist attack at Heaton Park Synagogue on Jewish communities, including Jewish residents in Salford, and the importance of ensuring people feel safe, supported and confident in their communities.
“We stand in solidarity with our Jewish community and that commitment continues to underpin our approach to our work in communities across Salford.
“The £600,000 allocated to Salford this week forms part of a larger government funding package developed to strengthen community safety and resilience, hatred and discrimination, support young people and bring communities together.
“The funding for projects and activity is intended to benefit all communities across Salford, including our Jewish communities, to improve cohesion and challenge all forms of hate.
“We understand the concerns that have been raised and will continue to engage to ensure the experiences and priorities of our Jewish communities are reflected in the wider community projects we undertake.”
