A report released on 17 June showcased some concerning statistics about the level of racism that exists within the charity sector.

The report, Home Truths, which was published by ACEVO and Voice4Change, revealed over two thirds of people working for charities have experienced, witnessed or heard stories of racism within the sector.

To help tackle the systemic issues, ACEVO and Voice4Change have said leaders must be held accountable for progress on DEI targets, and are urged to ‘take ownership’ of their learning on racism and anti-racism, so that they can help to challenge and undo racist systems.

As part of this process, charity leaders have been encouraged to commit to eight principles to address the diversity deficit in charity leadership. But how many of the following do you/will you pledge to?

Racial Diversity Principles

As a leader I will:

1. Acknowledge that there is a problem with racial diversity in the charity sector and commit to working to change that.

2. Recognise the important role leaders have in creating change by modelling positive behaviour and taking action.

3. Learn about racial bias and how it impacts leadership decisions.

4. Commit to setting permanent and minimum targets for diversity that reflects the participants, donors, beneficiaries and the population of the area that my charity operates in.

5. Commit to action and invest resources, where necessary, in order to improve racial diversity in my charity.

6. View staff as the sum of many parts rather than a single entity and recruit to build a diverse group of talented people collectively working towards a shared vision.

7. Recruit for potential, not perfection.

8. Value lived experience, the ability to draw from one’s lived experience and to bring insights to an organisation that can develop its work.

Who has made the commitments?

The following leaders are among those to have already committed to the principles:

Vicky Browning, CEO, ACEVO
Thomas Lawson, CEO, Turn2Us
Jonathan Freeman, CEO, CareTech Foundation
Beth Upton, CEO, Money Tree Fundraising
Michael Adamson, chief executive, British Red Cross
Heather Osborne, chief executive, Age UK Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin
Girish Menon, CEO, ActionAid UK
Howard Sinclair, chief executive, St. Mungo’s
Helena Holt, chief executive, Devon Air Ambulance
Alison Lowe, chief executive, Touchstone
Patricia Armstrong OBE, chief executive, ACOSVO
Sara Llewellin, chief executive, Barrow Cadbury Trust
Menai Owen-Jones, CEO, The Pituitary Foundation
Teri Stephenson, CEO, Age UK Lancashire
Paul Parker, recording clerk, Quakers
Ruth Potter, charity manager, OCAY
Matt Stringer, CEO, RNIB
Penny Wilson, chief executive, Gettting on Board
Annie Warburton, chief executive, Cockpit Arts
Jaine Stannard, chief executive, School-Home Support
John Schless, chief executive, Greenwich Students’ Union
Jo Gough, chief executive, RISE UK
Ben Kernighan, CEO, Leap Confronting Conflict
Ruth Kettle, CEO, Community Links
Catherine McLeod MBE, CEO, Dingley’s Promise
Sherrylyn Peck, chief executive, Safer London
Tom Clarke-Forrest, founder & chief executive, Sport 4 Life UK
Peter Lewis, CEO, Institute of Fundraising
Laura Sercombe, CEO, Girls Friendly Society
Ali Golds, CEO, The Juno Project
Camilla Knox-Peebles, CEO, AMREF Health Africa UK
Hilda Hayo, Chief Admiral Nurse, Dementia UK
Clive Stone, CEO, Oakleaf Enterprise
Donna John, executive director, Ignite
Kamran Mallick, CEO, Disability Rights UK
Louise Parkes, CEO, Great Ormond Street Hospital
Gail Gibbons, CEO, Sheffield Futures
Jane Ide, CEO, NAVCA
Rebecca Gray, CEO, Maudsley Charity
Dalton Leong, CEO, The Children’s Trust
Patrick Wolter, CEO, Mary Frances Trust
Josh Macalister, CEO, Frontline
Andy Burman, CEO, British Dieticians Association
Mark Rowland, CEO, Mental Health Foundation
Michelle Mitchell, CEO, Cancer Research UK
Sonya Chowdhury, CEO, Action for M.E.
Eddie Blaze, CEO, Emmaus Oxford
Tim Cooper, CEO, United Response
Tom Wright, CEO, Guide Dogs for the blind association
Darren Cormack, CEO, MAG International
Melanie Armstrong, CEO, Action for Children
Karen Ingala Smith, CEO, nia
Matthew Reed, chief executive, Marie Curie
James Blake, CEO YHA England and Wales
Sonia Mangan, CEO Carer’s Support West Sussex
Karl Wilding, CEO, NCVO
Javed Khan, CEO Barnardos
Liam O’Toole, CEO, Versus Arthritis
Nik Peasgood, chief executive, Leeds Women’s Aid
Sarah Hughes, CEO, Centre for Mental Health
Simon Blake, CEO, Mental Health First Aid England
Robin Osterley, CEO, Charity Retail Association
Kate Lee, CEO, Alzheimer’s Society
Jackie O’Sullivan, Executive Director. Royal Mencap Society
Derek Walker, CEO, Wales Co-Operative Centre
John Herriman, CEO, National Emergencies Trust
Derri Burdon, CEO, Curious Minds
Natasha Porter, CEO, Unlocked Graduates
Jonathan Barnard, CEO, World Land Trust
Ingrid Tennessee, CEO, Quo Vadis Trust
Jenni Wiggle, CEO, Living Streets
Philip Goodwin, CEO VSO International

Want to commit?

E-mail policy@acevo.org.uk to make your pledge.

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