Leaders, particularly white leaders, across the public sector are being urged to tackle racial inequalities. Very few top teams represent the communities that they serve. The slow rate of change carries a significant risk of alienating leaders from global majority backgrounds who experience almost 1,000 racially motivated hate crimes a week in England alone and a loss of substantial talent from the sector.

The call to action follows a spotlight being shone on racial inequalities over the past year, including the murder of George Floyd, statistics highlighting that Black and Asian people were disproportionately affected by COVID-19, alongside a recent report by the government-led Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities (CRED), finding that employees from Black and Asian backgrounds are not progressing to top leadership positions to the same proportion as white colleagues.

Research has shown Black people hold just 1.5% of senior roles, increasing just 0.1% since 2014. This shows the continuing risk that white leaders will simply go on recruiting in their own image unless there are changes throughout recruitment, development and promotion.

In response to this, The Staff College has released a new publication “Leading in Colour: The Fierce Urgency of Now”, aiming to challenge, and, crucially, support all leaders, but particularly white leaders in changing these inequalities.  Report authors Rose Durban, Meera Spillett and Rosemary Campbell-Stephens MBE, have substantial senior level experience and recognition for work in children’s services and education over many years.

The publication offers leaders the chance to reflect on the very real difficulties faced by their Black and Asian staff and communities, the impact of multi-dimensional racism on them and what they can do to improve the situation for minoritised groups. It sets out what the issues are, what can be done and signposts resources to support understanding and change across the public sector.

The findings also highlight the need for leaders to recognise that the racism experienced by their staff and communities is not a 9-5 experience. Meera Spillett, one of the authors speculating on the reasons for a lack of progress over many years said

“Perhaps one of the reasons initiatives have not taken hold is that it may be seen by white leaders as a task to be done and not a way of life in and out of work. Authentic change requires professional and personal learning with empathy, acknowledging that Black colleagues and communities can never leave the impact of racism behind.” White leaders are also to be reminded that racism occurs in rural and urban areas alike.

The Staff College is calling on white leaders to show solidarity with this most pivotal issue by reading the publication and resources, acknowledging their role in tackling racism, outlining steps they will take to combat the issues raised in the report and sustain their actions within their own public sector organization. 

Senior leaders within the public sector and beyond have shared their concern for the issues raised within the publication, and praised its approach:

Kathryn Smith, Chief Executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE):

“This is a brilliant resource. It gives clear guidance on what I can do, should or shouldn't do. Answering the questions that white leaders may not feel able to ask (and telling them they should ask them) was very helpful.”

Kathryn Perera, Director Horizons Team – part of NHS England and NHS Improvement:

‘Leading in Colour is accessible, well-structured and (most importantly) practical. I found that it helped me not simply to "admire the problem" but to identify starting points both for thinking and acting differently as a white leader. Two things I'm taking away immediately to use with my team in the NHS: the Cultural Competence Continuum and the idea of "courageous conversations" which create inclusive, mutually supportive spaces for listening and sharing. Leading in Colour is an essential guide for NHS leaders who want support to challenge what they think they know and how they act."

Professor Keith Moultrie, Institute of Public Care, Oxford Brookes University:

“This publication captures some key areas of action that leaders need to focus on, it is positive and action-oriented and has the potential to be a valuable, easily accessible resource for leaders”. 

Dez Holmes, Director of Research in Practice said

“A timely and powerful report, inviting all of us – but especially white leaders in public services – to do and be better. Unflinching in its challenge, it draws on research and lived experience to highlight just how much more needs to be done, and – crucially – how much we can do. If you find yourself not wanting to read it, take that as a sign you probably need to.”

Terence Herbert, Chief Executive, Wiltshire Council commented:

‘A powerful publication which helps us have the local conversations to maximise all of the skills and talents of our communities to benefit our whole county.’

Ian Thomas CBE, Chief Executive, The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames said this publication is

"A well thought through, evidenced-based piece of work".

Photo via Anadolu Agency

The rate at which Kenyan-Somali girls and children are being kidnapped, abused or murdered if ransom is not paid, is alarming residents in the Kenyan capital on Thursday.

Kenyan-Somali’s are living in fear in the capital after cases recorded by police revealed that criminals were out to kidnap girls and children and then ask their families for money.

Videos have surfaced online showing victims being tortured, abused and barely alive. They are forced to send a video message to loved ones asking for huge sums of money and failure to do so results in the victims being not released.

The latest is of Hamsa Abdulwahab, 23, who was kidnapped in Nairobi. A video was soon released showing her with serious injuries and her asking her family to give kidnappers what they want.

Family member Omar Iso said his cousin was “kidnapped while she had left her business premises. The kidnappers have called us constantly asking for ransom and sharing videos of our tortured relative. We need help.”

The news has been trending on social media across the east African country.

In the Eastleigh and South C areas of Nairobi where ethnic Kenyan Somalis live as a majority, there is panic and fear.

“I will never walk alone without protection from friends,” Halima Yassir told Anadolu Agency. “People are now scared of walking out there, especially for us Kenyan-Somalis. The kidnappers think we have money but we have nothing,”

The Kenya Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) said in a statement that the number of kidnappings and deaths have raised serious security concerns among Kenyans and the group asked Kenyans, in collaboration with the security apparatus, to stop the sad trend of missing, murdered children, girls and individuals.

Sheikh Abubakar Bini expressed concerns about the kidnappings, especially of young children and juveniles younger than 18 years old, females of wealthy families and businessmen, among others.

“We strongly condemn the constant attacks on children and abductions of girls and individuals across the country. This is a gross violation of children’s rights and a horrific experience for young girls and individuals to go through,” he said in a statement. - Andrew Wasike, Anadolu Agency

Photo Courtesy Yahoo News

Boris Johnson has condemned 'disgraceful' footage of a BBC reporter being chased and abused by a group of anti-lockdown protesters.

A video clip posted by an anti-lockdown group shows BBC Newsnight political editor Nick Watt pursued through Whitehall in central London on Monday.

In the footage, taken outside Downing Street, Watt runs for his safety while being chased and shouted at by a number of people.

The Metropolitan Police, which was present outside Downing Street at the time, has launched an investigation but said its officers “were not in the immediate vicinity of the incident”.

Clearly concerned for his wellbeing, the Newsnight journalist starts running to get away from the chasing mob as they continue to shout abuse at him.

In the three-minute clip, they can be heard shouting “traitor”, “run you ****” and “shame on you” at the journalist.

Downing Street said the prime minister had seen the footage, describing it as "deeply disturbing". "Journalists should never face that kind of behaviour. The right to protest may be fundamental in our democracy but violence, threats and intimidation like this is never acceptable," a spokesperson said.

Johnson tweeted: “Disgraceful to see the hounding of Nick Watt doing his job. The media must be able to report the facts without fear or favour – they are the lifeblood of our democracy.”

The clip was posted on YouTube by Resistance GB, a group that claims to be “anti-lockdown, pro freedom, liberal” on its Instagram page.

In the video, Watt is followed by a number of protesters, one of whom grabs him by the shoulder, while others shout in his face.

To escape the protesters, he eventually runs past a police cordon and into the Downing Street entrance.

The incident happened on the day Boris Johnson announced a four-week delay to the end of England’s COVID-19 restrictions.

The BBC condemned the behaviour of the protesters.

A spokeswoman for the BBC told Yahoo News UK: “This behaviour is completely unacceptable. 

“All journalists should be able to carry out their work without intimidation or impediment.”

On Twitter, there was widespread support for Watt from his fellow journalists.

Newsnight editor Esme Wren said: “Harassing and intimidating any journalist is completely unacceptable. 

“All journalists should be able to do their work without impediment or risking their safety.” 

Jess Brammar, a former Newsnight deputy editor, tweeted: “The video of Nick Watt being chased and abused by a mob is absolutely horrifying.

“Huge solidarity with him. It’s disgusting, he’s doing his job. I know the BBC will be rightly furious about it.”

Journalist Paul Mason, who also worked at Newsnight, said: “Solidarity with BBC journalist Nick Watt. 

“The harassment of journalists by far-right penetrated groups is part of a street atmosphere that's been allowed to fester around Whitehall since late 2019.”

Sky News presenter Adam Boulton tweeted: “These sorts of encounters are becoming commonplace for reporters in #ageofrage. All support to Nick Watt.”

Labour MP David Lammy wrote: “Absolutely horrific. Solidarity with Nick Watt. 

“It is a fundamental principle of any democracy that journalists are free to do their jobs without intimidation.”

Home secretary Priti Patel tweeted: “The video of BBC Newsnight's Nick Watt being abused by a mob is appalling and distressing. This behaviour is never acceptable.”

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “We are aware of a video that has been shared online which shows a journalist being aggressively confronted and chased by a group of protestors in the vicinity of Whitehall on Monday.

“The behaviour shown in the video is unacceptable.

“In this instance, while officers were nearby as part of the policing response to the ongoing protest, they were not in the immediate vicinity of the incident. 

“It was not clear at the time exactly what had taken place but after reviewing the video footage, a number of possible offences have been identified and an investigation has been launched.”

The force asked anyone with information that could help identify those involved to call 101 or tweet @MetCC, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. By Ross McGuinness, Yahoo News