What we do?
The aim of the Race Equality Environmental Programme is to improve the capacity of the environmental sector to tackle racial inequality and meet the needs of ethnic minority people.
We assist environmental organisations to mainstream race equality into their day-to-day functions and all areas of organisational development, as well as increase their awareness and understanding of complex EDI issues and barriers across the sector as a whole.
Our approach is not prescriptive but is that of a ‘critical friend’ to enable organisations to build their individual capacity to initiate, improve and take effective action on their own EDI policies and practices.
The programme is fully-funded by support thanks to Esmee Fairbairn and is open to green public and third sector organisations in Scotland.
How do we do it?
Our mainstreaming programme adopts an anti-racist and human rights based approach which is tailored to the green sector. It does so through three mediums: bespoke consultancy support; general trainings and workshops; and race equality good practice briefings / toolkit.
Consultancy
Our consultancy arm of the programme offers support to organisations in all areas of their organisational development.
As a critical friend, we work with organisations on an individual basis to determine where they are now and where they would like to be regarding race equality in order to come up with up with bespoke, long-term actions. Areas of support include, but are not limited to, reviewing: recruitment policies, practices and procedures including retention and progression; equality policies and strategy; data collection and analysis; and community engagement plans.
Trainings and workshops
To share good practices throughout the sector, we deliver general training and workshops on equality, diversity and inclusion practices and principles for the sector.
This service encourages knowledge sharing and discussion so that organisations are no longer working in silos. Our experience has shown that organisations are willing to come together to hear what needs to be done, learn from each other’s experiences, and plan effective collaboration. Some examples include general EDI training through a race equality lens, training on adopting a human rights based approach to policy and practice and workshops on the right to a healthy environment.
Good practice briefings & toolkits
Our website contains a blog section where we share the latest news, blog posts and briefings for our programme regarding race equality and the green sector in Scotland.
Currently, a race equality toolkit is being devised with the aim of sharing good practice and improving racial literacy of organisations. Both the briefings and toolkit can be used as a go-to resource for organisations when implementing race equality action points.
Why do we do it?
Climate justice and social justice are inextricably linked. However, the environmental sector as a white and middle-class movement has become apparent in recent years.
As stated in the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation’s ‘Addressing the Lack of Diversity in the Environment Sector’ report, on average, only 3.1% of staff working in the environment sector are from ethnic minority groups. Beside Agriculture, the sector is the second least diverse industry in the UK.
Through CEMVO’s established connections and networks with ethnic minority individuals, ethnic minority grassroots organisations, public bodies, eNGOs, and UK-wide businesses, we aim to bridge the gap by creating effective, lasting action as opposed to patchwork, temporary solutions.
Get in touch
To request an initial meeting to discuss the Race Equality Environmental Programme, you can fill out our request for support form here
For more information, please contact our Environmental Race Equality Officer at: viriginia.toyi@cemvoscotland.org.uk
Download our brochure
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