Race Equality Foundation

The Race Equality Foundation is proud to co-sign a joint letter urging the government to extend the SEND Reform consultation deadline (currently 18 May 2026). Too many families - especially Black, Asian and other racialised Disabled children and their families - are being shut out of this process due to barriers such as: 🟢 Complex and lengthy consultation documents 🟢 Limited accessibility and translation support 🟢 Digital exclusion and lack of outreach 🟢Insufficient time for meaningful engagement Without an extension, those most affected risk being underrepresented in decisions that will shape SEND support. We believe consultation must be inclusive, accessible, and equitable - not just in principle, but in practice. ✍️ We’re calling for more time so communities can: 🟢 Understand the proposals 🟢 Share their lived experiences 🟢 Shape the reform of SEND support #SENDReform #RaceEquality #Inclusion #SEND #DisabilityRights #Education #Equity

“If I just had a little bit longer to do things, I would have felt a lot more comfortable at work.” When Shilpa returned to work after a period of sickness, her conditions were ignored and she was met with a lack of support. Instead of a phased return which showed understanding for her condition, she was thrown back in at the deep end. The lack of support led to her health worsening. Ill health doesn’t just remove people from work - it is shaped by work. Listen to her story in the video and share. #TooPoortoBeSick

Flexibility is not just a perk – it’s a vital workplace protection. Adizat was denied flexible working arrangements during and after her pregnancy, despite experiencing ongoing ill-health. She was willing and able to work, and her role could be performed remotely. However, when she requested to work from home, the answer was no. For her white colleague, the answer was yes. This had serious consequences: exhaustion, the risk of hospital admission, and forcing her to ask herself, “[Should] I suffer in pain?”. Work should never undermine your health. For many, flexibility and reasonable adjustments can mean the difference between staying in work or being pushed out all together. Listen to Adizat's story and share. #TooPoortoBeSick

🗳️ Tomorrow, voters across the UK head to the polls to elect local councillors, but not everyone will be able to take part. Many eligible voters from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds still face barriers to voting. Voter ID is one of them, with people from these communities more than twice as likely to be turned away for not having the right ID. If you’re planning to vote, don’t forget: you must bring valid photo ID. This can include: ✔️ Passport ✔️ Driving licence ✔️ Free Voter Authority Certificate No ID = no vote. Local elections shape the services we rely on every day, from housing to community safety. ✅ Check you have the right ID ✅ Make a plan to vote ✅ Share this and the resources in our bio with your networks #VoteReady #LocalElections #Democracy #VoterID

Today marks the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025: a major shift for the private rented sector and a critical step towards tackling racial inequality in housing. Our latest article explores how several of the Act’s key measures - ending section 21 ‘no‑fault’ evictions, banning ‘No DSS’ and ‘No Children’ discrimination, and extending Awaab’s Law - could better protect Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities, who are disproportionately affected by housing insecurity and poor conditions. Read the full piece via the link in our bio.

Call for Participation: Community Voices in Greater Manchester We are inviting people from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities in Greater Manchester to take part in an upcoming Community Voices workshop. This relaxed, in-person group conversation will be a space where you can share your experiences of issues such as the cost of living, housing, health, and the environment, and have the opportunity to shape local policy and projects. Over the past three months, more than 20 local organisations have worked together to develop a set of ideas for improving outcomes in Greater Manchester. This workshop is an opportunity to respond to those ideas, and make sure community voices guide the next stage of this work. We are looking for individuals who are: - from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities - living in Greater Manchester - willing to share their views and experiences Workshop details: 📅 Tuesday 12 May 2026 📍 In-person, Manchester ⏱ 3 hours 💷 £75 voucher provided for your time To sign up, please complete this form before 2pm Friday 8 May: /e/TKZfdFv4hZ 📧 If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Lee Lockhart at [email protected]. #EveryonesEnvironment

Climate and nature decisions aren’t abstract: they show up in people’s homes, health, and bills. The story of nine-year-old Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, the first person in the world to have air pollution listed as a cause of death, is a stark reminder. As part of 'Our Environment, Our Voices', a collection of letters by those at the sharp end of inequality, Nicole remembers Ella in a letter focusing on clean air as a health necessity. The disproportionate effect of air pollution on Black, Asian and minority ethnic makes this especially urgent. Informed by her experience of a medical sensitivity condition, Nicole argues that reducing plastic production and packaging would cut emissions that are harmful to health. Read the letters and share their message via the link in our bio. #EveryonesEnvironment

The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy promises real change - but will it deliver? Following the government’s announcement on 15 April 2026, our Director of Policy and Engagement, Tracey Bignall, reflects on what this newly announced strategy means women from racialised communities. We welcome the strategy's focus on actionable recommendations - from the pledge to close the maternal mortality gap for Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic women to greater support for those with musculoskeletal conditions, this has the potential to be transformative. But to follow through, it is essential to name structural racism as a core driver of inequality. Without systematic use of ethnicity data, the change promised by this strategy risks being surface-level. 👉 Read our full statement on the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy on our website - link in bio.

🌍 Whose voices shape our environment? We’re proud to be partnering with NPC to launch Our Environment, Our Voices: a collection of letters written by those at the sharp end of inequality. These letters make clear why decisions about our environment must be shaped by lived experience. Through Everyone’s Environment, NPC is working alongside communities and 80+ social purpose and environmental organisations, including us at the Race Equality Foundation, to change who is included in decisions about climate, nature, and our futures. We’re proud to be working in partnership with Disability Rights UK, Turn2Us, NPC, and our delivery partners Media Trust and Hope for the Future. 📖 Read the letters and explore the campaign with the link in the bio. #EveryonesEnvironment

What does it mean to call the UK home in 2026? 🎬We’re excited to be partnering with LADbible Group, Young Arrows and Merman to launch Pitch Your Story: an initiative designed to open doors for the next generation of emerging creatives in the UK moving image industry. This opportunity invites aspiring talent to submit an idea for a social-first short film (60–120 seconds) exploring identity, belonging, and what it means to call the UK home in 2026. The winning idea will receive: 🎥 Up to £15,000 in production support ✨ Mentorship from partner teams Who can apply? • Students studying media, film, communications or related subjects in the UK • Junior creatives / filmmakers with up to 3 years’ experience • Applicants must be 18+ • No prior professional production experience needed 📅 Deadline: Midnight, Monday 11 May 2026 🔗 More info via the link in bio

We’re delighted to announce that Gary Younge will deliver the opening plenary at our Advancing Racial Justice conference as keynote speaker. With his session, “The state of play on racism and inequality in the UK”, Gary will share reflections on the current landscape of racism, inequality and public discourse — setting the scene for a vital day of exploring evidence, data and action. Across the day, we’ll also be joined by a fantastic line-up of speakers exploring intersectionality, physical and mental health, lived experience, and much more through our panels and workshops. ➡️ Scroll through to see some of the programme highlights. 📅 Join us on 16 April as we explore what it takes to advance racial justice in the UK today. 🎟️ Tickets are limited — sign up via the link in our bio.

"“It took me five years to get the right diagnosis,” shared one participant, after facing years of medical gaslighting, forced antidepressants and talk therapy instead of the treatment she actually needed." In our latest blog, Peer Researcher Srishti Pandey [collaborator] shares her findings from working with young, South Asian Disabled women as part of the 'Mapping the Margins' project. Srishti explores the experiences of these women at the 'margins of care', where they face racism, ableism, and misogyny - rather than equitable healthcare. Read the full blog on our website - link in our bio.