Data released today by The RACE Report campaign has revealed that just 7% of those working in the environmental charity sector identify as black, asian or minority ethnic, compared with a 14% national average across all people in employment. This new data was voluntarily submitted by 91 organisations representing 7,948 employees as part of a collective effort to improve transparency and marks the most comprehensive study of its kind in the sector.
Today’s report coincides with the release of the latest annual transparency report from US-based sister campaign Green 2.0 – and represents an international drive to improve diversity within a predominantly white sector.
Launched in April, The RACE Report campaign is a UK-wide racial reporting initiative aimed at encouraging UK environmental charities and fundraisers to improve the racial diversity of their workforce and governing bodies. This is the first in a series of annual reports which will serve as a robust benchmark for the sector’s progress and provide constructive insights.
Participating organisations were asked to assess and report on the racial diversity of their workforce and trustees. The report’s findings suggest the sector is making encouraging, steady progress – and excelling in some areas – but must make further, faster progress to build a workforce that is more representative of modern Britain.
One area in which the environmental charity sector exceeds expectations is in the proportionally high number of people of colour (POC) who serve as trustees. Data from 62 UK environmental organisations showed that POC represent 11% of those on governance and trustee boards, which, according to the most recent data, surpasses the wider charity sector’s average (8%). Visibility of POC in influential positions is an essential driver for the recruitment and retention of those from racially minoritised groups.
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Posted On: 13/12/2022