Race Equality Week 2024: Day 5 - The Big Promise

Will you join millions of others today to turn words and thoughts into action?

The Big Promise Day

In the 5-Day Challenge we have explored just some of the key and daily issues that are so hurtful, damaging, and excluding to your ethnically diverse colleagues, community friends and families (we appreciate many of you may have experienced issues directly yourselves).

Do we step back, walk away, ignore, or take action?

The only way to achieve equity and equality is for each and every one of us to take action. The theme for Race Equality Week this year is #ListenActChange.

Over the last four days, we have shared the issues faced, the impact of not taking action and simple actions that you can take to make a big difference. It’s time to:

• Listen to what needs to be done

• Take Action on what you have heard and learnt

• Create and be the Change in tackling race inequality!

If we all commit to #ListenActChange, then real change can take place. It’s time to make your Big Promise and a commitment that has a long-lasting impact.

Why The Big Promise?

Race Equality Matters carried out in-depth interviews and research, which evidenced that the majority of ethnically diverse employees feel that there has been very little visible action to move towards the deeper and more meaningful change required to drive race equality.

There has been the will and call for action by leaders and organisations, especially three years ago (2020), but it is clear that for many organisations, the experiences of their employees when it comes to unfairness, inequality and pain have generally not changed.

Whilst there are some organisations that have started to make progress, typically driven by few individuals, meaningful change will only happen if everyone gets involved and commits to driving change. #ItsEveryonesBusiness to #ListenActChange.

Race Equality Matters carried out one-to-one interviews and group workshops with the Race Equality Matters community and collaborated with the governance forum and Dr Karl George MBE. This included reviewing 15 race charters which collectively drew together 200+ suggested commitments and pledges. With the community, we identified promises that are must-do’s and are measurable, accountable, transparent and that will create meaningful change.

They are known as the Big Promise.

 

• Action - 2 Minutes

  To help you make that commitment to change, we have identified bespoke sets of Magnificent 7 promises for: 

   

  • ExCo/C-suite/Board
  • Senior leaders
  • Allies
  • Ethnically diverse colleagues

  The sets of 7 promises have been developed specifically so that each will make a real impact on race inequality in the workplace.

   

  Please look at the promises for your stakeholder group and reflect on which promise or promises you can make.

   

  If you made your Big Promise in 2023, take some time to review and reflect on your progress and decide whether you may want to choose another promise this year.

   

  • Choose your Big Promise/Promises.
  • Promote your Big Promise.
  • Keep your Big Promise.

   

  Encourage your organisation to implement the Big Promise so everyone gets involved.

 

 

Additional Resources