Over 40 CEOs of UK NGOs sign solidarity statement a year after the race riots in the UK
43 leaders of UK NGOs have signed a solidarity statement ahead of the first anniversary of the race riots in the UK. The signatories of the statement commit to anti-racist leadership and reimagining their work based on global solidarity, equitable relationships, mutual learning and collective action.
The leaders of organisations working in international development and humanitarian assistance have pledged to “recognise our role in either perpetuating or challenging the unequal systems our organisations are part of.” They recognise that, “tackling racism means confronting how power operates within our governance structures, funding relationships, and leadership cultures. It means confronting how we engage with partners and communities, how we think about expertise, and whose voices count. It means indeed questioning our very existence.”
The leaders highlight that “what matters now is that we seize this moment to help shape a future that acknowledges the role that racism and colonialism have played in shaping the international development sector to date, and embrace the opportunities to create new, just and connected futures for global solidarity and shared humanity.”
Signatories include leaders of CAFOD, Christian Aid, Fairtrade Foundation, Islamic Relief, Oxfam GB, Peace Direct, Saferworld and STOP AIDS.
The statement was organised by the Bond CEO anti-racism group.
Ben Simms, CEO of Global Health Partnerships, said:
Adopting anti-racism approaches has opened Global Health Partnerships (formerly THET) to a wealth of expertise that had long been overlooked or inaccessible. Most significantly, it has enabled us to learn from our non-UK-based partners in ways that affirm just how much the UK stands to gain from deeper engagement with the global South.
One story I return to often is how the NHS East London Foundation Trust transformed its mental health services through insights gained from its Ugandan partners. This is no longer an isolated example – such stories are multiplying, made possible by a more deliberate reckoning with how racism has held us back: as individuals, as organisations, and as a nation. In this sense, anti-racism approaches are not just the right thing to pursue for justice, it’s essential for any CEO committed to leading with integrity and vision, and to building an organisation that is impactful, responsive, and rooted in today’s global realities.
Alex Kent, Co-CEO at Restless Development, said:
The anniversary of last year’s racist riots is a powerful reminder that standing up to racism remains as urgent and necessary as ever. At Restless Development, we are proud to work alongside incredible young people who are driving positive change in their communities, from tackling Islamophobia to leading anti-racism initiatives in schools.
We are championing and working with young people who have a vision for a peaceful and inclusive UK, partnering with young people to make that vision a reality. We stand with you. We will not let hate win.
Lena Bheeroo, Head of Anti-racism and Equity at Bond, said:
A year on from the UK-wide unrest fuelled by racism, it’s positive to see CEOs and sector leaders stepping into collective leadership, moving beyond statements to publicly live their values. At a time when anti-racism is being deprioritised and dismissed with some workplaces stepping back from their AEDI commitments, their shared message of solidarity is a powerful act of resistance and a clear acknowledgment that the work is far from over and there is still a long way to go. Now is not the time to step back. By coming together in this way, they show that a different future is possible, one where anti-racism is sustained not out of pressure, but through care, conviction, and shared responsibility.
ENDS.
Notes for editors
- Read the statement.
- This statement has been put together by members of the Bond CEO Group on Anti-Racism.
- Read an open letter from 70 CEOs of UK NGOs re-committing to tackling and dismantling racism following the UK race riots in summer 2024.
- At Bond we’re working to transform the UK NGO sector, we are prioritising work on how both we as an organisation and sector need to make tackling and dismantling racism a priority since it is embedded and manifests across the international development sector. Our free online resource, Anti-racism and decolonising: a framework for organisations maps out how systemic racism manifests across all areas of the international development sector and supports organisations to build anti-racist practices and to take steps to decolonise the sector. In Autumn 2024, we launched resources on applying anti-racist & decolonial approaches to policy and advocacy in international development. This is the Work: reimagining policy and advocacy is available online.
- Bond is the UK network for organisations working in international development. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 350 civil society organisations from across the UK, and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
- For further information or interviews please contact Jess Salter at [email protected] or call 07392972411.
