Race Equality Week is a week when organisations across the Country unite in activity to ‘seriously’ address race in the workplace. The events of 2020, including the Black Lives Matter movement and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on ethnic minority communities, has heightened public consciousness of race inequality. The week aims to galvanise and maximise impact through a nationwide collaboration for real change with a theme of #ActionNotJustWords.
West London College is participating because they have much to celebrate in terms of the work they do with their diverse learners, their work on inclusion and everything they do to help set up people for success in their lives and careers. Yet they still have more to do to positively promote race equality, demonstrate they are anti racist and to unpick elements of their systems and processes that may unwittingly contribute to systemic racism in British society. West London College want to use this week and the activities below to show this and as the hashtag says show #ActionNotJustWords.
Race Equality Week is distinct from Black History Month, which is about educating communities and spotlighting excellent black role models. Race Equality Week is about taking individual action and asking what action have we taken as individuals or organisations to support and promote Race Equality.
Here are just some of the things that West London College is doing to mark the week:
-Teaching staff facilitated content-creation tutorials in the weeks leading up to REW for students to create posters. These will be displayed during Race Equality Week, alongside anonymised responses to a student survey on Black Lives Matter, giving a sample of students’ views.
-The college held discussion tasks during tutorials linked to Race Equality Week and the #MyNameIs campaign – and they will post on their social media two videos from Ambrose Quashie (HS2 Skills Manager), and Virendra Sharma MP for Ealing, Southall talking about their experiences, their career journey, racism they have faced and showing how you can ‘see it to be it’.
-Promoting #MyNameIs a simple but highly impactful way to ensure everyone pronounces people’s names correctly. It is a phonetic name spelling campaign to help tackle race inequality. It recognises that naming is something that some in the BAME community think about all the time to fit in with being normal in British society. This will also focus during the staff training day on 11 February.
-Acknowledging the power of leadership to make a difference to Race Equality and will be using #BigPromise to set out proactive actions the College will be taking to proactively demonstrate it is anti-racist. Staff and learners will be encouraged to do the same and make their pledges public.
-Drum Carib an Afro-Carib fusion group, specialising in African drumming and percussion will be doing two performances at Southall Community College & Ealing Green College for students and staff to enjoy. Each session will consist of two 45min Drumming and Percussion workshops and a 15min performance which will take place during lunch time:
Drumming & Percussion Workshop and Performances
Wednesday 9 Feb
Southall Community College
Workshop 1– 11.15-12pm
Performance– 12.45-1.00pm (Common room/ canteen area)
Workshop 2 – 1-2pm
Thursday 10 Feb
Ealing Green College
Workshop 1– 11.15-12pm
Performance– 12.45-1.0pm (Common room/ canteen area)
Workshop 2 – 1-2pm
-The cafes at West London College will prepare different themed days showcasing food from different cultures.
-The Students’ Union Equalities Officer is writing a special editorial for the Student Newsletter offering students constructive advice on how they can discuss and address issues around Race Equality.
-Tea and Coffee Mornings:
Denise Charles, Head of Curriculum for Service Industries and Mike Fisher Head of HR Services are running 2 drop-in sessions for all staff to come along to and have a meaningful discussion about race, how things are going and any opportunities which could be explored regarding race equality in the workplace.
The sessions are at the following times;
Wednesday 9 February 2022
Time 9.30 – 12pm
Location Hammersmith and Fulham College, Room C455
and
Thursday 10 February 2022
Time 9.30 – 12pm
Location Hammersmith and Fulham College, Room LT2
Refreshments will be available, so please attend at any point during these times. The college aims to make this as inclusive as possible so all staff are welcome.
Sessions at Southall Community College, Ealing Green College and Park Royal College will be planned for later in the term.
If you are interested in finding out more about what West London College is doing for Race Equality Week, please check their social media accounts on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.
