Local Charities Join Forces To Launch The Anti-Racist Alliance

Twenty charities across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire have joined together to form the Anti Racist Alliance being launched today.   

Led by Bassetlaw Community and Voluntary Service (BCVS), Community Action Derby (CAD) and Voluntary Action Doncaster (VAD) the Anti Racist Alliance, made of Voluntary and Community Sector Infrastructure organisations, will support it’s wider membership of over 6000 organisations to go beyond  a zero tolerance approach to racism and to commit to positive action to become and remain a proactive anti-racist organisation.   

Infrastructure organisations work across the country to support other charities to develop as new groups, support groups to grow through funding or governance advice and training, provide volunteer brokerage services and provide a voice for groups into policy decisions.

BCVS, CAD and VAD have been active members of the  National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) national Anti-Racist Working group which has developed a set of Anti Racist principles and call to action also being launched today.

BCVS, CAD and VAD along with the wider infrastructure alliance members are able to provide support for  voluntary and community sector organisations to develop their capacity to adopt and most critically to implement anti-racist principles.    This will include diagnostics, action planning, training and referral to specialist support as needed.

Andria Birch, CEO of BCVS today said “We would love to live in a world where racism doesn’t exist, however there is still much work to be done.    BCVS is actively committed to anti-racism and is pleased to be able to join forces with like-minded charities to learn, develop our practice and share our learning and resources with our wider membership to create a better world for everyone. You can find this here – www.bcvs.org/ukantiracism

We are always stronger working together and look forward to this next stage in the journey to become and remain anti-racist in all that we do.

Kim Harper, CEO of CAD added “We have been active for many years and are proud to have a diverse board which actively champions anti-racist practice.The voluntary and community sector has a key role to play in supporting our workforce and wider membership to remain or become anti-racist and we look forward to supporting our networks to develop their practice further”.

Cath Witherington, COI of VAD, also said, “We are keen to raise the profile of this important campaign across South Yorkshire and have been working with the Black Leadership Group to connect and learn across sectors to bring this added dimension and experience into the campaign”.

Infrastructure organisations signed up to the Anti-Racist Alliance to date in alphabetical order:

Amber Valley CVS

Bassetlaw Community and Voluntary Service (BCVS) and Bolsover Together

Community Action Derby (CAD)

Community Accounts Plus

Connex

Derbyshire Dales CVS

Derbyshire Voluntary Action (DVA)

Erewash Voluntary Action

High Peak CVS

Links: The Chesterfield and NE Derbyshire Council for Voluntary Service and Action (LinksCVS)

Mansfield Community and Voluntary Service (MCVS)

Multi Faith Centre (Derby)

Newark and Sherwood CVS

Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service (NCVS)

Rurual Action Derbyshire  (RAD)

Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire  (RCAN)

South Derbyshire Community and Voluntary Service (SDCVS)

The Church of England (Derbyshire)

The Volunteer Centre Chesterfield and NE Derbyshire

Voluntary Action Doncaster (VAD)

You can find out more about the future plans of the alliance, support available and how to pledge your support by visiting www.bcvs.org.uk/antiracism and www.navca.org.uk/anti-racism-work