Statement on the report from the Government's Commission for Race and Ethnic Disparities
3 Apr 2021, 10:54 a.m.
As an organisation that only last week launched its first ever Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy, we were really interested to see the findings of this report, and how they fit into the current debate about racism in the UK and the research and data available from the last 50 years.
Whilst we are aware that the report provides an alternate perspective on these issues, for us the overall conclusions are disappointing. The report raises more questions than it answers and the huge debate it has generated highlights how controversial the findings are to many.
For us as a Charity there are some points that resonate; findings around the use of social media to promote racist views and a call for improved controls and accountability; and the issue of terminology, particularly around the phrase ‘BAME’.
The report does not dispute that it is harder to get a job if you are black, and wider research shows this is still the case even if you are a black graduate. But we find the assertion that education can override the impact of racism is a simplistic and misleading conclusion on a very complex issue.
As a charity we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture, and we will continue to address the deeper complexities of racism and how it manifests itself.
In line with our strategy, we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace, increasing diversity at all levels of our staffing body, and ensuring greater engagement and representation of our diverse beneficiaries.