Who WE ARE
Race Equality Network (REN) is a registered charity and Infrastructure organisation that provides support to over 60 grass roots Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) groups and organisation’s that work primarily with ethnically diverse communities in Bradford District and Craven. REN champions race equality at a grassroots and strategic level to ensure that services such as education, employment, health, social care, housing, training and volunteering are inclusive and accessible to all communities . We promote equality and inclusion through providing a range of services including advice and support to our members, EDI training, co-production, networking, developing partnerships with the public sector and so much more.
To Collaborate
Our Approach
“We strive to work in collaboration and in partnership with our members, partners and stakeholders to ensure that equality, equity, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of service delivery and development.”
To Achieve
Our Mission
“To build a strong network of organisations and individuals that work together to diversify and strengthen the voluntary and community sector and work towards achieving equitable outcomes for all communities“
Our Objectives
1. To Promote Equality and Inclusion:
- Develop and implement comprehensive programmes that educate and raise awareness about the importance of racial equality and inclusion within various communities.
- Advocate for equitable policies and practices in workplaces, educational institutions, and public services that ensure fair treatment and equal opportunities for individuals from all racial and ethnic backgrounds.
- Provide training and resources for organisations and individuals to help recognise and combat systemic racism and discrimination.
2. To Unify Communities:
- Organise community events and initiatives that bring together people from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to foster understanding and solidarity.
- Facilitate dialogue and collaboration among community leaders, local organisations, and residents to address racial issues and work towards common goals.
- Support the creation of community networks and partnerships that encourage mutual support, respect, and cooperation among different racial and ethnic groups.
3. To Celebrate Diversity:
- Host cultural festivals, exhibitions, and workshops that highlight and celebrate the rich cultural heritage and contributions of various racial and ethnic communities.
- Promote the stories, achievements, and perspectives of individuals from diverse backgrounds through media campaigns, publications, and public presentations.
- Encourage educational institutions to incorporate diverse cultural content into their curricula and extracurricular activities, fostering a more inclusive and appreciative environment for all students.
4. To Foster and Promote Good Community Relations:
- Implement conflict resolution and mediation programmes to address racial tensions and promote peaceful coexistence within communities.
- Collaborate with law enforcement and local authorities to build trust and ensure fair and just treatment for all community members.
- Conduct research and surveys to monitor community relations and identify areas for improvement, using the findings to inform future initiatives and policy recommendations.
These objectives aim to create a society where racial equality is the norm, diversity is celebrated, and communities thrive through mutual respect and cooperation.
Supporting Over 180 Organisations to Promote Racial Equality
Advocating for Diverse Communities in Bradford and District
The Race Equality Network (REN) is dedicated to representing the views and aspirations of a multitude of groups across Bradford and District, encompassing long-established communities, new arrivals, and migrant communities. Our representation includes South Asian Communities, African Communities, Arab Communities, African Caribbean Communities, Refugee and Asylum Seeker Communities, and Central and Eastern European Communities.
Working directly with communities is our top priority. REN provides comprehensive support in various forms, ensuring that the needs and voices of ethnically minoritised communities are recognised and addressed. Our actions include:
- Taking a stand against racism, xenophobia, and anti-Semitism.
- Raising the profile of organisations that represent ethnically minoritised communities.
- Providing infrastructure support to enhance community organisations.
- Influencing service providers, funders, and other agencies to be more inclusive and equitable.
- Organising networking, information, and consultation events to foster community collaboration.
- Conducting research activities within the BAME sector to inform policies and practices.
- Advocating for the BAME voluntary sector and the wider community with local and central government, as well as other relevant institutions.
- Amplifying the voices of ethnic minority communities in partnerships and decision-making processes at local, regional, and national levels.
By working closely with over 180 organisations, REN is committed to building a more inclusive and equitable society where all communities can thrive.
REN champions race equality at a grassroots and strategic level to ensure that services such as education, employment, health and social care, housing, training and volunteering are inclusive and accessible to everyone in Bradford District. We promote equality and inclusion through providing a range of services including advice and support, training, co-delivering projects, networking, developing partnerships and so much more.
Networking
REN regularly organises large events that encourage members of Bradford’s diverse community organisations to meet and share information and opportunities. These events also provide the opportunity for REN to disseminate information, conduct consultations and celebrate our collaborative work across Bradford. Such events have included:
- Women Leading the Way
- Root Out Racism Local Launch
- The Working Together conference
- Change Up project conference
- Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities funding workshops
- Celebrating Community Cohesion in West Yorkshire
Leadership
In 2019 we launched our Leadership Development Programme. Working with Empowering Minds, REN delivered training to women and young people from diverse ethnicities on issues around cohesion, racism and equality. We have since hosted events and webinars encouraging and celebrating leadership within communities from Black, Asian and other minoritised backgrounds.
Our Achievements
IMPROVING REACH PROGRAMME
As part of the Improving Reach programme at West Yorkshire level, over 80 organisations across Bradford District were supported via workshops and training sessions on Health in the workplace, Employment Law, Disability Rights, Management Committee training and Quality Assurance processes. This programme also carried out work in supporting migrant communities including planning and facilitating Refugee Week.
WORKING LINKS
PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
In 2008 REN pioneered a unique networking opportunity with financial support from West Yorkshire Local Development Agencies, encouraging BAME organisations to come together and establish working partnerships which would strengthen activities and fundraising opportunities. REN advised and provided co-ordination and support with creating these working partnerships.
BCCI COMMUNITY COHESION PROJECT
BCCI Community Cohesion Project – also known as Communities Together saw REN bringing together eight community organisations to deliver activities to promote social cohesion whilst addressing key issues around racism and extremism. 156 activities were delivered through the programme. Partners included Kala Sangam, Milan Centre, Peacemakers International, Thorpe Edge Community Centre, West Bowling Centre, Grange Interlink, Bangladesh Community Association, and Bangladeshi Forum for Community Cohesion.
"CHANGING BRADFORD"
The “Changing Bradford” book and exhibition was a Heritage Lottery Funded project in which REN recruited and trained up a group of young people as oral history interviewers. These young people undertook interviews which contributed to the book and were exhibited at Bradford’s Impressions Gallery. REN advised and provided co-ordination and support with creating these working partnerships.
BASIS
COMMUNITY CASCADE
This West Yorkshire-wide project saw the partnership of sub-regional infrastructure support organisations delivering 4 specialist strands: Environmental, Support with applying for funding, Marketing and Communications, and Community Cohesion. REN led on Cohesion and worked with faith-based networks and BAME organisations to deliver a range of activities to strengthen community cohesion.
YOUNG PEOPLE INTO MANAGEMENT (YPIM PROJECT)
After identifying a gap in the representation of young people on BAME Management Committees, REN undertook a pilot programme (YPIM) recruiting eight young people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. These young people were mentored by four key individuals from the voluntary sector. These included Jenny Pupius, CEO of ABL; John Corbishley CEO of CNet; Surji Cair, Manager of Milan Centre; and Peter Tate from MAPA. Bradford CVS and BYDP provided formal training to the young people. The programme led to NVQ2 qualifications for the participants.
T&A article on 7th August 2001 about the original launch:
Asian and black community groups are being united under one banner in an attempt to bring cultures together and bridge divides. Membership of the Consortia of Ethnic Minority Organisations (COEMO) has swollen from 40 to 63 groups in the last week. COEMO was officially launched yesterday with leaders saying it was not an attempt to revive the Race Equality Council (REC) under a different name.
Secretary Yusuf Karolia said: “We want to form partnerships, particularly with other umbrella groups. But we are not a threat to other organisations. We have to work with all partners and make a difference to the quality of life of the citizens of Bradford.”
Chairman Mohammed Salam said he hoped that bringing groups together would enable people to share expertise in applying for funding. He said: “It is true that ethnic minority communities have missed out on funding opportunities due to a lack of information, timely advice and development support which is why we felt a need for an organisation such as the Consortia.”
The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq, warned delegates at the launch not to focus purely on ethnic minorities to the detriment of the white population. Kanchan Jadeja, Assistant Director of the National Association of the Council for Voluntary Services, said Bradford’s problems meant it could be a target for Government funding.
Kanchan Jadeja said: “People might be scared of Bradford at the moment and might not want to come here but clearly this seems to be an opportune time for this organisation and there are opportunities for groups to put their ideas forward in a very clear and rational way. The response of the Prime Minister initially to what happened in Bradford was because of a level of thuggery. Now the Home Office seems to be saying it wants to look at the deeper problems which caused what happened and there seems to be a level of willingness to find out what communities need and what can be done.”
Ted Cantle’s review was revealing and he commented that:
“Leadership was different in Bradford, Burnley and Oldham to other areas that we visited in the sense that the local authority and other institutions had been seemingly less committed to a multi-racial, diverse society, and perhaps had been less willing to promote diversity as a positive virtue”
Ted Cantle’s team came across widespread feeling that BAME communities did not have a stake in society and were not getting enough help to tackle their problems. The report identified a lack of hope and a sense that their future was limited by their economic and social circumstances. It only took the right trigger sometimes lack of access to service or provocation by far-right groups, to tip that frustration into violent confrontation. You can read more about Ted Cantle and the report here: www.tedcantle.co.uk
Ted Cantle said he was hopeful of a better future particularly young people who he said were really inspirational and gave him hope.
Working with the communities the measures Bradford Council, Police and other agencies took were extensive and focussed on bringing people together and raising cultural awareness and tolerance of each other’s beliefs.
The strapline, One Landscape, Many Views, was soon enacted as a strategic approach to underline future strategies and policy responses which resonated well with the communities.
