The Race Equality commission’s recommendations to actively fight racism within Sheffield was originally released in July 2022, now nearly two years later, The Sheffield Race Equality partnership (REPS) has finally launched.
This launch happened at the start of race equality week, a UK wide movement encouraging organisations and individuals to address the barriers to race equality within institutions.
Kaltum Osman Rivers, 42, former Green Party Councillor and Chair of charity African Heritage Culture Forum, said: “As one of twenty four commissioners for the Race Equality Commission, we have been able to do so much to support the council in making Sheffield an anti- racist city.
Whilst we are a long way from equity, weeks like this are a chance to encourage positive change for the city. There is a difference between not being racist and being anti- racist, we want Sheffield to understand this.”
Mrs Rivers is also a doctoral researcher at the University of Sheffield’s sociological studies department.
The commissioners, chaired by Professor Emeritus Kevin Hylton, carried out inquiries and compiled evidence before producing a report to make recommendations for the council in 2022.
They came up with seven recommendations’ to make Sheffield an anti racist city:
- Sheffield: an anti racist city
- Educating Future Generations and Showing Leadership in our Educational Institutions
- Healthy communities which are inclusive: Wellbeing and Longevity for all
- One Sheffield in Community Life: Inclusion, cohesion and confidence
- Celebrating Sheffield Through Sport and Culture- including the past present and future.
- Proportionality and Equity in Crime and Justice
- Sheffield Equal and Enterprising: Supporting Black Asian and minoritized ethnic Business and Enterprises.
A task and finish group led by Richard Stubbs took the first steps in implementing these recommendations’ ‘to build a better future for all of us’.
Now, the Race Equality Partnership will continue to carry out the commission’s recommendations.
Mrs Rivers said: “I became a councillor to try to address issues with racism from within, I focused on working with partners within the city, the police, the council, the housing providers, the department of health, to make sure minority communities have a voice.
“As a black, Muslim, disabled woman, I often don’t feel any different during Black History month, or Race Equality week. Which is disappointing. We need to celebrate and embrace minority cultures every day.”
Mrs Rivers explained that it will take time to see if the things recommended by the commission are implemented, however she is ‘hopeful’ that having a task and finish group will lead to greater ‘trust’ in the system.”
Mrs Rivers said: “We will only know the impact of these things when we feel change. Up till now there have been a lot of promises, I want to see action.”