Voice4Change England and ACEVO have published a new report focusing on the charity sector: Home Truths – undoing racism and delivering real diversity in the charity sector. It’s part of a wider body of work the two organisations have been developing with National Lottery community funding. It makes the case that ‘the problem in the charity sector is not simply an absence of BAME people. Once inside the sector, significant numbers of BAME people experience discrimination and harm’.
The report found that:
- 68% of respondents had experienced, witnessed or heard stories of racism in the charity sector
- 50% of respondents felt they had needed to ‘tone down’ their behaviour or be on their ‘best behaviour’ in order to fit in
- 45% had been subject to ignorant or insensitive questioning about their culture or religion
- 30% had been treated as an intellectual inferior
Home Truths is not a report that asks if there is a problem with ‘race’ equity in the charity sector. It has long been known that there is an under-representation of BAME people working in the charity sector, and that under-representation is worse in senior leadership roles. Instead, this report sought to reframe the ‘diversity’ debate, saying that racism is a significant and unresolved issue in the charity sector just as it is in the rest of society.
In making this report it centred the experiences and expertise of over 500 BAME people who either responded to an online survey or took part in in-depth interviews. Those participating in the research shared their experiences of racism in the sector and also said what they thought needed to change in order to create true culture change.
Positively, there appears to be an appetite for progress and this report is intended to provide a supportive framework for those who want real change. The report lays out steps both to further open-up the charity sector to BAME people and to re-orientate charity work towards building a racially just society.
To read the report click here