I am acutely aware of the impact on all of us of the pandemic in recent months and of events in America in recent days. The Black Lives Matters movement has never appeared more vital as we respond to George Floyd’s death in police custody. I agree with the political activist Angela Davis when she argued that “In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, you must be anti-racist”. 

Sadly, George Floyd’s death cannot be viewed in isolation. Many of our colleagues will have experienced racism and unequal treatment; Covid-19 has had a disproportionate impact on our BAME members of staff; and the top of our own organisation doesn’t yet properly reflect either the diversity of our workforce or of the populations we serve. 

I would like to reassure our black members of staff that your colleagues are standing in solidarity with you. We appreciate your anger, pain and sadness. We are here to support you. We must be motivated by the words of Desmond Tutu who once said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

Tony Chambers
Chief Executive