含羞草视频 REACH

The REACH Network is open to any 含羞草视频 staff member or doctoral researcher who identifies as Black, Asian, or from a racialised minority in the context of the United Kingdom, including people of mixed race or multiple heritages. While this could apply to people with a wide range of backgrounds and appearances, the common ground for our network is likely to be direct or first-hand experiences of exclusion, discrimination, or inequality on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, or assumptions about these based on appearance, language, religious or cultural practices. We count many international staff amongst our membership.

The REACH Network is a staff-ledproject aimed at making the University a more culturally inclusive and anti-racist institution. We do this through our three action areas:

• Advocacy - To collectively hold the University accountable to its stated commitment to challenge racism and discrimination whenever identified.
• Celebration - Actively recognise the range of cultures across campus through social events; highlight the achievements of BAME staff
• Wellbeing and Professional Development - Provide a range of informal and formal opportunities for BAME colleagues to identify, address and achieve their wellbeing and career needs and goals.

Leadership of the Network is guided by co-chairs who facilitate communication and outreach, and a small group of Network leads who meet weekly.

As part of our Advocacy strand, the Network is continually engaged with University leaders, governance processes, and external partners to advance race equity at the institution. Current info on the Race Equality Charter mark, external partnerships, and more can be found on the Race Equity page of the equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) webpages.

British universities are, like many institutions, structured by white supremacy and institutional racism, such that BAME people are often marginalised and discriminated against in both overt and subtle ways, which leads to unequal outcomes on the basis of race. This is compounded by the intersectionality of race with other issues, such as gender, religion, class, and dis/ability.

Members of REACH are likely to have experienced racial exclusion or discrimination on the basis of appearance, ethnicity, or national origin, either in their personal or professional lives, or both. We need a REACH Network to provide a supportive space for members to connect with others who believe, affirm and understand these experiences and are working to address them within the University environment. These activities aim to generate better outcomes for BAME staff and doctoral researchers and thus a better experience of the University for all.

As a member of REACH, you will be kept informed of ongoing activities related to our three priorities of Advocacy, Celebration and Well-being and Professional Development. We offer online ‘coffee breaks’ where members can meet virtually to connect and share experiences as well as raise issues and propose ideas. We meet as a network about once a quarter to discuss issues and gather input, and host a full calendar of Celebrations events annually (Diwali, Christmas, Lunar New Year, Eid, African-Caribbean) to amplify the rich and diverse cultural heritages of ourNetwork and share them with the wider 含羞草视频 and 含羞草视频 London communities.

Network leads also offer informal support and guidance for members experiencing or witnessing racism at the University, and can help advise and support people going through formal processes such as disciplinaries and grievances, from an anti-racist perspective.

REACH Network would benefit from leadership and participation of members in all areas of activity. Your help is needed in organising and delivering events, maintaining and updating the website and internal communications, and managing Network resources. REACH is always open to the ideas and initiatives of its members. Please sign up on our mailing list for more information.

The University has a number of staff networks aimed at creating a more equitable and diverse community, of which REACH is one. To support REACH, the University acknowledges that equity, diversity and inclusion work is not voluntary, and should be enabled by line managers. REACH Activities benefit from a Network budget from EDI Services as well as specific funds for carrying out race equity work that makes progress against our commitments to the Race Equality Charter, for which the University has a Bronze Award.

We prioritise members’ safety and recognise that not every member would want others in the University to know that they belong to our Network. We therefore make choices to ensure membership can be as confidential as possible if specific members wish. This means we do not share membership lists as a matter of course. We operate using a JISC mail email list that does not reveal member identities unless a member writes to the whole list, and you can choose to have your university email or personal email on the list. We also do not currently operate a MS Teams group as member identities would be revealed there.

That said, being a part of REACH holds the potential to increase our members’ access to safer spaces and confidential support, especially for issues of racial discrimination that may be encountered at work. To access this support, simply get in touch with Network leads when you are experiencing issues, and they will treat your case confidentially and help you to identify and explore your options.

REACH recognises that many BAME PGRs may not have access to safer spaces where they can fully express themselves. To address this, the Ethnic Minorities Doctoral Research Community is available to meet like-minded PGRs and empower change through DR-led projects. However, BAME members of staff within the institution are also key to empowering DRs and are a potential source of support, advice, role modelling and inspiration for initiatives. REACH members can offer a source of guidance on how to navigate academia as a person from a BAME background, enabling you to gain a deeper knowledge of how the sector works beyond your doctoral studies. There are also leadership opportunities and access to funding as a member of the network, through applying for funding for BAME community building and other race equity related projects. Developing and participating in projects, building connections and a fuller understanding of racialised career experiences as a member of REACH can offer a set of empowering experiences that can help to prepare you for your future within academia or industry.