Vale of Glamorgan Council awarded Race Equality Matters Trailblazer Status

The Council has been awarded with the Race Equality Matters Bronze Trailblazer Status in recognition of work to address racial inequality within the organisation.

• Tuesday, 13 December 2022

  Vale of Glamorgan

Designed to recognise organisations driving meaningful change in the race equality sphere, Race Equality Matters (REM) Trailblazer status has been determined by an independent panel of experts. All with lived experience of race inequality in the workplace. 

Trailblazer status is more than an award. The purpose is to:

1. Identify what is making a meaningful impact
2. Encourage those making an impact to keep the momentum going
3. Inspire others to up their game 
4. Evidence an organisation’s commitment to #ActionNotJustWords to tackle race inequality

Becoming a Trailblazer means the work the Council has done has resulted in change and made an impact across the breadth of the entire organisation. Some examples of steps taken include:

• Working with the Diverse Staff Network to promote an inclusive workplace that actively celebrates its diverse community and workforce
• Introducing #myname is – an initiative for people to use phonetic spelling with their signature so that people use their right name and pronounce it correctly
• Running Safe Space meetings to facilitate dialogue between the Senior Leadership Team and black, Asian and ethnic minority colleagues
• Committing to action on the priorities of the Diverse Staff Network to run race awareness training and raise the profile of black, Asian and ethnic minority colleagues

Councillor Ruba Sivagnanam, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, Equalities and Regulatory Services, said, “I’m pleased the Council has been recognised for the steps the organisation has taken so far to tackle racial inequality. There is still work to do, but this is a fantastic start and provides building blocks for the future.”