Recently, I was asked the question “What have you done to support greater inclusion and equity?“
I was asked this by one of the candidates for the role of EDI Director at the City Bridge Foundation. A really good question. One we should be asking ourselves daily.
We can all make a difference everyday. Colleagues, friends, family and others we meet in our daily lives are influenced by what we do: both the big things and the everyday things.
The question made reflect on what I have done – and at the end, the candidate asked, “what do you do to share what you have done” to encourage others. And that candidate, through her actions, has encouraged me to share my reflections.
My values around diversity, equity and inclusion were shaped when I had the privilege to spend 3 years advising the Mandela/ANC led Government of National Unity in the post-Apartheid South Africa Advising on, and implementing, strategies to support the nation’s Growth, Employment and Redistribution Programme – including policies on economic empowerment and affirmative action.
More recently, I helped set the ambition for the City of London Police to be the most inclusive police service in the country. An ambition backed up by a strategy and programme of delivery.
I have ensured the composition of the Police Authority Board reflects that ambition. I sought that the City Police became White Ribbon accredited and myself a White Ribbon Ambassador and I promoted the City’s initiative, Op Reframe, tackling violence against women and girl.
I have worked with the City of London Corporation and City Police to partner with the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation to deliver three events over the last three years: to bring people of all ages together to discuss experiences and learn from each other about racism, misogyny and how we build a more inclusive society.
In Education, I supported the City of London School, recognised for its diversity, to set an ambitious bursary programme, with bursaries increasing from 50 to c.100 in seven years. I have endowed a bursary at Oxford University and co-funded one of the Faculty of Law’s BAME DPhil Scholarships supporting a talented human rights lawyer.
And in housing, I am proud that the two businesses that I have worked with over the last 12 years have delivered over 30,000 homes at an average price of £150,000 delivering low-cost quality homes for young first-time buyers getting them out of the rent trap.
It is also why I am a Board Member of the City Bridge Foundation, the UK’s 6th largest charity and London’s largest grant giving body, supporting social justice charities.
But my real reflection is that it’s not just the big stuff. Equally important is how we engage with people every day: the judgements we make or don’t make; the connections we seek and share. Cultivating and encouraging diversity of thought; avoiding group think and embracing difference. By being an ally and an active bystander.
What have you done today to make a difference?
