The Alan Senitt Upstanders Leadership programme, is a community schools linking, leadership programme for Year 10 pupils of different faith and cultural backgrounds. This is a programme by the Alan Senitt Memorial Trust, a charity dedicated in the memory of Alan Charles Senitt, who was murdered in Washington DC on 9th July 2006 whilst defending a friend. 

The Leadership Programme consists of 4 seminars between the months of November and May. At each seminar 40 participants from different faith and multi faith schools take part in workshops on community leadership, team building, event management and anti-discrimination training on the topics of Antisemitism, anti-Muslim hate and other important topics such as disability discrimination and racism in Sport. The interfaith cross-communal programme allows the participants to learn about each other, their different cultures, religions and communities and at the same time reflect on themselves and their own responsibility to become the pioneers of change in society, all whilst gaining leadership skills that will aid them throughout their lives.

Guru Nanak Sikh Academy’s project for this year is a campaign on Islamophobia and Islamic Hate. One of the GNSA students, Dev Tank, shared his experience being part of the programme. “The Allan sennit leadership Programme is an amazing programme as it allows us, the younger generation to create change and awareness on topics not talked about in our society”.

Guru Nanak Sikh Academy’s students look forward to the results of their hard work as they come closer to completing their campaign. They will be holding a non-uniform day and an art competition on the 26th May to create awareness on Islamophobia and Islamic Hate and how Islamic Hate also affects the Sikh faith and community. They will possibly bring in Inquisitive, an artist who is also from a Sikh background. Inquisitive is someone who can connect with the students in the school and share his own experience with Islamic hate.