
The Race Equality Foundation to lead design an ‘Anti-Racism Practice Learning Hub’ for the GLA
The Race Equality Foundation is delighted to be working with the Greater London Authority to design the development of a collaborative peer learning network to tackle structural racism (working title: ‘Anti-Racism Practice Learning Hub’) for the Capital.
The Hub is envisaged as an online and offline space for organisations across London’s health and care partners1 to share best practice and access training and resources to support them on their journey in becoming more effective anti-racist organisations. By sharing and learning together, we hope to change how organisations work, and build anti-racism approaches in their practice – as employers, service providers, advocates and policy makers. London’s health and care partners – including the NHS, ICS and local authorities – are championing this approach, working closely with the Mayor and the GLA. The project is being co-developed with race equity organisations and the voluntary and community sector organisations, to ensure that their voices and their experience are central to the work as it develops. The overarching aim of the Anti-Racism Hub is to contribute to improving health outcomes and health equity for Black, Asian and minoritised Londoners, by supporting organisations to be actively anti-racist.
This project is an initiative of the London Recovery Board’s Building a Fairer City Action Plan2 which aims to help organisations across the capital address inequalities and build a fairer city, and the London Health Inequalities Strategy3, which aims to make London a healthier, fairer city through action on the wider determinants of health. Long-standing, structural inequalities made many people’s experiences of COVID-19, and life afterwards, significantly worse. The Anti-Racism Practice Learning Hub aims to end the persistence of racial inequality and bring about much needed change.
The Race Equality Foundation will co-produce the design of the Hub with partners such as Bridge the Gap Studios, The Motherhood Group, Croydon BME Forum, and Asian People’s Disability Alliance.
Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, Dr Debbie Weekes Bernard, said:
“I am proud that City Hall is working in partnership with the Race Equality Foundation on the development of the Anti-Racism Learning Hub. This initiative will support organisations in various sectors across the capital to tackle structural inequalities, both internally and through their public-facing work. This is a significant step towards creating an actively anti-racist society and by investing in projects like these, we can help build a better London – a fairer, more equitable city for all.”
Jabeer Butt, CEO, Race Equality Foundation, said:
“We’re pleased to be working with the GLA on this project. It is a big part of the Mayor’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and will help to create a fairer, more equal, integrated city where all people feel welcome and able to fulfil their potential. It’s really significant that the GLA is looking to address health inequalities and the structures of inequality.”
The aim of this grant award and design phase is to create a designed model of the support offer, including governance, key definitions and approaches, and create a plan for year one of the project’s delivery. Following this design phase, the development and delivery phase is expected to begin in late Spring. A progress event is being planned for Summer 2023.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- Health and care partners bring together NHS, local authority, voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations from across the health and care system in London. By planning and co-ordinating services more effectively, local care partnership delivers a more integrated health, care and wellbeing system for local people.
- Building a Fairer City Action Plan.
- London Health Inequalities Strategy
Race Equality Foundation
Race Equality Foundation is a national charity tackling racial inequality in public services to improve the lives of Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. The Foundation believes that everyone should be provided with the opportunities to flourish. The charity was established in 1987 as part of the National Institute for Social Work (NISW) and was first known as the Race Equality Unit. It became an independent charitable organisation in 1995. In 2006, the Race Equality Unit changed its name to the Race Equality Foundation.
Hub Project partnership
The Anti-Racism Practice Learning Hub was proposed by the Health Equity Group, and was agreed by the leaders group and the London Health Board.
A partner task & finish group – Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Greater London Authority, Association of Directors of Public Health, Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise, London Councils, and NHS London – supports scoping, planning and delivery of the Hub.
Health Equity Group
Health Equity Group provides leadership and coordination to ensure health equity in London. It reports to the London Health Board.