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Charity leaders explore ways to add authenticity to digital anti-racism content
12 Nov 2020by Joe Lepper
Female charity Chief Executives recently handed their social media accounts over to BAME supporters and staff as part of the innovative ‘Share the Mic’ anti-racism campaign
The charity sector has had to take a long, hard look at itself in recent years regarding its attitudes to diversity and racial equality.
From the recruitment of staff, volunteers and trustees to support for beneficiaries, many charities and sector organisations have had to face up to the uncomfortable truth - there is racism in their own ranks.
Share the Mic
Charity leaders are being increasingly innovative in their digital content in order to give anti-racism messaging greater authenticity
The recent success of the Share the Mic campaign was a good example of this.
Share the Mic was launched this year and sees black women taking over the running of high profile social media accounts of white female business leaders and influencers for the day.
Among the charity leaders taking part is Shelter Chief Executive Polly Neate, whose Twitter feed was taken over by Roli Barker, a project manager at the homelessness charity.
Barker used the initiative to promote her interests in arts and culture, as well as her role chairing a housing board. She also promoted her interests in mindfulness and meditation as well as sharing a video of one of her favourite songs, I Believe in Miracles by the Jackson Sisters.
Hi! My name is Roli. I am a Project Manager @Shelter and I will be taking over Polly’s twitter account for the day. A little about me...I’m half Bajan and half Trini, an arts & culture enthusiast and Chair of the Housing North Board @JigsawHG #ShareTheMic pic.twitter.com/MvSm8k3pQA
— Polly Neate (@pollyn1)Hi! My name is Roli. I am a Project Manager @Shelter and I will be taking over Polly’s twitter account for the day. A little about me...I'm half Bajan and half Trini, an arts & culture enthusiast and Chair of the Housing North Board @JigsawHG #ShareTheMic pic.twitter.com/MvSm8k3pQA
— Polly Neate (@pollyn1) October 20, 2020
Another to take part is cancer charity CLIC Sargent Chief Executive Rachel Kirby Rider, whose Twitter account was taken over by cancer patient Shellbie, who is also a digital data and technology worker.
Shellbie explained the importance of the #ShareTheMic campaign as “giving Black women a chance to vocalise our own experience of trying to create change around us. Whether the impact is small or large, it is important for us to try and come together to uplift, support and listen to Black women.”
Hello, my name is Shellbie. I’m 24 and live in the West Midlands. I am half Jamaican and half English and have lived in the UK since birth. I currently work in Digital Data and Technology and today I will be taking over Rachel’s account for the #ShareTheMic campaign. pic.twitter.com/oPJSIba3p4
— rachel kirby-rider (@RachelKirbyR)Hello, my name is Shellbie. I’m 24 and live in the West Midlands. I am half Jamaican and half English and have lived in the UK since birth. I currently work in Digital Data and Technology and today I will be taking over Rachel’s account for the #ShareTheMic campaign. pic.twitter.com/oPJSIba3p4
— rachel kirby-rider (@RachelKirbyR) October 20, 2020
Another charity leader to seize the opportunity to add authenticity to anti-racism messaging through #ShareTheMic is Macmillan Cancer Support CEO Lynda Thomas.
She handed her Twitter account to breast cancer survivor and communications professional Sophie Jones.
Jones used the day using this high profile charity sector account to thank the charity for its support and share her story of how she beat cancer.
Hi everyone and thanks Lynda for giving me your platform for the day! How awesome is this? My name is Sophia. I am a mum of 3 grown up children, Communications professional and a breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed in early 2019, went through four surgeries, chemotherapy 1/3 pic.twitter.com/0yhjm1TGGT
— Lynda Thomas (@lynda_thomas)Hi everyone and thanks Lynda for giving me your platform for the day! How awesome is this? My name is Sophia. I am a mum of 3 grown up children, Communications professional and a breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed in early 2019, went through four surgeries, chemotherapy 1/3 pic.twitter.com/0yhjm1TGGT
— Lynda Thomas (@lynda_thomas) October 20, 2020
Follow-up questions for CAI
How can social media takeovers increase authenticity in anti-racism campaigns?What strategies help charities address systemic racism internally?How does #ShareTheMic empower BAME individuals in the charity sector?What role does leadership play in promoting diversity and inclusion?How can charities effectively implement anti-racism training for staff?
Charities face up to racism in their organisation
Among other charity sector bodies to step up their anti-racism work this year is the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).
During the summer, the NCVO revealed it is taking action to tackle, what its chief executive Karl Wilding identified as “its structurally racist organisation”.
His blog post on the issue said: “It’s clear from our work on equity, diversity and inclusion that NCVO needs to change.”
In November, the NCVO revealed the extent of change needed when its annual report for the year ending March 2020 found that BAME staff on average earn 20% less than non-BAME staff. None of its senior leadership team are BAME.
Another charity to face up to racism in its organisation is Versus Arthritis, which this month referred itself to the Charity Commission over staff accounts of bullying and racism.
The charity has pledged to create “safe spaces” for staff to report racism, give inclusion and anti-racism training to all trustees and human resources staff as well as recruit an equality and diversity specialist.
Versus Arthritis said it is “committed to stamping our systemic racism and will be open and transparent in our progress”.
#CharitySoWhite
To support charities looking to add authenticity to their anti-racism content there is a raft of online resources and blogs available from the campaign group #CharitySoWhite.
#CharitySoWhite launched last year to urge charity sector workers from BAME communities to share their experiences of institutional racism. The campaign has since grown and its recent activity has included the launch of a listening campaign to find out how BAME individuals can thrive in the charity sector.
Joe Lepper
Joe Lepper
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