Aidan White, publisher and editor of Newham Voices, is also a member of Newham’s Race Equality Alliance. Here he outlines the importance of this work in preparation for Race Equality Week in February.

Placard for anti-racist protest — Image: Amy Elting/Unsplash

It may be one of the most diverse boroughs in the country, but the people who live and work in Newham still suffer discrimination because of their race or ethnicity.

Now a refreshed campaign aims to put the Borough in the vanguard of work to create a more equal society.

The Newham Race Equality Alliance (NREA) is an independent community-led group working with Newham Council to fight the discrimination, bias and stereotypes that affect residents and people who work in Newham because of their race or ethnicity.

Now the alliance plans a relaunch of its work on 9 February to raise awareness of its work and to encourage residents, local community leaders and activists to join together in the fight for racial equality.

The NREA will be relaunched at a special event being organised during Race Equality Week, a nationwide movement of events and actions organised from 5-11 February.

This week of action comes at a time when race hatred is once more on the march, with fresh controversies raging over the rise of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia surrounding the war in Gaza and the continuing racist abuse in football.

The Newham event, which is open to everyone, will be held on Friday 9 February from 4pm to 7pm, at 1a The Mix Cumberland Road, E13 in cooperation with the charity REIN, Rights and Equality in Newham.

Newham’s Race Equality Alliance has so far been working on principles for a borough-wide charter to challenge racial discrimination, advising Borough leaders on its policy work, Tackling Racism, Inequality and Disproportionality (TRID) and dis-
cussing initiatives reaching out to the community. Its work and plans for the future will be the focus of the meeting on 9 February.

The objective is to ensure that the voices of residents are heard and that local people can influence decisions at all levels, including through the delivery of local council services. The alliance, while acting as a contact point and reference group, also plans to make itself accountable.

Race Equality Week has been growing strongly since it was first launched in 2021 with more than 4,500 organisations involved last year.

According to the organisers of Race Equality Week, the non-profit organisation Race Equality Matters, the problem of tackling race inequality has shown little and slow progress for decades.

The importance of a new way forward was never more evident than in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd and during the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted significant inequalities. But change has been painfully slow.

The week of action aims to address the challenges that ethnically diverse employees face in their working lives. This year the theme will be #ListenActChange, with an emphasis on less talk and more action.

Councillor Dr Rohit K Dasgupta, the Newham Council deputy Cabinet Member for Equalities, Social Justice and Culture said: “We take great pride in the diversity of our Borough, but unfortunately the truth is that far too many of our residents deal with the same basic problems of inequality.

“This alliance is part of our wider, dedicated approach to making Newham a better, fairer place where everyone is respected, has equal opportunities in life, is in good health and feels safe in the community.”

For more information about the 9 February event and the NREA contact info@rein.uk.com.

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