{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Words: Annabel Rose","standfirst":"The issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement aren\u2019t new, but recent events in the US and UK have shone a light on systemic racism in our society. Systemic racism is a problem in our sector too \u2013 and Scouts is not immune","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/10619/blm2.jpg","width":2591,"height":2372,"altText":"","caption":"","link":null},{"quoteText":"\u2018We\u2019ve asked all of our staff to learn about anti-racism and make a commitment to continue learning what it means to be actively anti-racist\u2019","attribution":"","gridType":"quote","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re aware of how painful the past few months have been for Black people and communities, including our members and colleagues. We\u2019ve started taking action, but we know there\u2019s still more work for us to do to become anti-racist.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EThe first step was creating spaces to listen to our Black colleagues (and all staff\u0026nbsp; affected by racism) so we could understand how to support our people and tackle racism at Scouts. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EThis wasn\u2019t about asking or expecting people to take on this work; it\u2019s an ongoing commitment to making sure people\u2019s views and experiences shape Scouts\u2019 actions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003ETo be clear, we know this may not have felt safe, comfortable or easy. We made sure people knew we would receive feedback in whatever way they were happy to give it, including anonymously and through an online forum. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EWe also signposted people to the Black, African And Asian Therapy Network, so they could seek support outside of Scouts if they wanted to. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve asked all of our staff to learn about anti-racism and make a commitment to continue learning what it means to be actively anti-racist as colleagues, as managers, and in the work that they do. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EWe shared resources to help people get started, making it clear that it wasn\u2019t the responsibility of (Black) colleagues, friends, or family to educate people. \u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EWe encouraged people to use team meetings to begin important conversations about making Scouts an actively anti-racist organisation, with the support of Hannah Kibirige, our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EGoing forward, we\u2019ve set out five actions that we\u2019re taking for anti-racism at Scouts:\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s3\u0022\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re reviewing and removing barriers from our volunteer recruitment processes to increase representation at all levels.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s3\u0022\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re embedding anti-racism tools and learning within volunteer training and inductions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s3\u0022\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re setting up community engagement forums to involve members of diverse ethnicities in our decision-making.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s3\u0022\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re amplifying the voices and experiences of Black, Asian and minority ethnic young people and volunteers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s3\u0022\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re embedding inclusion in all we do, providing young people with opportunities to learn about race equality, rights and freedom.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EWe\u2019re looking for input in developing our community engagement and learning opportunities. If you\u2019re from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background and would like to be involved or share your own experiences and ideas about anti-racism at Scouts, please get in touch with Hannah by emailing \u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s4\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:hannah.kibirige@scouts.org.uk\u0022\u003Ehannah.kibirige@scouts.org.uk\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003E. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp class=\u0022p2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022s1\u0022\u003EFinally, we know that these are small steps \u2013 tackling systemic inequalities properly will take time and work. For us, this is the start \u003Cbr\u003Eof a much longer journey.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"24 August 2020","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":48559,"nodeName":"How Scouts is becoming anti-racist","title":"How Scouts is becoming anti-racist ","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/10619/blm2.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daab81362360b0","caption":"BLM2","type":"jpg","size":2582405,"width":2591,"height":2372,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"How Scouts is becoming anti-racist ","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80ODU1OSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2020/august/how-scouts-is-becoming-anti-racist/"}