BANES Council to launch "Race Panel" as part of Black History Month
It will aim to identify and address racial inequalities across Bath and North East Somerset
Bath and North East Somerset BANES Council is setting up a "Race Panel" to establish the levels of racism and inequality across the area,
The council has announced the news to mark the start of Black History Month this October, which will see several events take place celebrating the history and culture of the black community.
"I think it's main aim is going to be about highlighting and addressing discrimination and disadvantage and to make sure that we as a council and all of our partners are doing absolutely everything we can do to bridge those gaps," council leader Dine Romero told us.
"We're in the process of setting it up at the moment and we'll obviously need to make sure that it has a series of objectives, but these could cover the culture of the council and the services it provides and also those that it commissions as well.
"And also have a deeper look at those inequalities of outcome that are experienced by BME black and minority ethnic people in Bath and North East Somerset."
It is hoped it will be up and running "in the next month" according to councilor Romero.
It comes as several events will be held in the area this month to mark Black History Month.
On 19 October a Black Lives Matter BLM webinar will be held featuring young people from the group Boys in Mind and the Black Families Education Support Group.
It will focus on their reactions to the BLM movement and their ideas for creating a more inclusive society.
Elsewhere Bath's Record Office will be highlighting black community history and the contributions that black and other minority ethnic communities have made to BANES over the centuries.
More information about that can be found at www.batharchives.co.uk.
The council has also renamed its Community Leader of the Year Award in honour of Beryl Dixon MBE, an advocate for the BME communities in Bath and across the South West, who sadly passed away in 2017.
“We are committed to tackling racism and promoting equality," councilor Romero added.
"Part of that is listening to all our local communities and valuing the contributions they make, so I’m particularly looking forward to our webinar with young people later in the month.*
"I’m also pleased that every year when we hold our Community Awards, they will highlight how Beryl Dixon laid the foundation for local BME groups and her legacy will live on in BANES.”