SCVO

Day

Wednesday 15 June

Time slot

14:00-15:00

This event took place almost 3 years ago

Room

M4
Wheelchair accessible

Contact

Beth Mukushi
0800 169 0022

Topics

Comms & marketing Equality, diversity & human rights Governance Learning & development

Who was the event aimed at?

Project/line managers

Who spoke at this event?

Manish Joshi (host) – Manish is on the board at SCVO, and the CEO of Strathclyde Students’ Union

Sir Geoff Palmer (keynote speaker)- Geoff is a Professor Emeritus and human rights and racial equality activist

Colin Lee – Colin is the CEO at CEMVO Scotland and has a wealth of experience working with the Scottish voluntary and public sectors

Viana Maya – Viana is a Diversity Equity and Inclusion consultant and has been working with SCVO to support our own journey to becoming an anti-racist organisation

Event summary

What was covered in your sessions?

The panel, Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Emeritus Professor from Heriot-Watt University, Viana Maya, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion consultant and Colin Lee CEO of CEMVO, discussed with delegates how organisations can do more to become anti-racist and provide insight and inspiration on race equality in Scotland.

• Sir Geoff talked about race as a construct and gave examples of organisations and campaigns that have made an impact in Scotland.
• Viana Maya challenged the audience around how funding is allocated across the sector, the accessibility of events such as the Gathering and the action that is needed to improve representation and voice across the Scottish voluntary sector.
• Colin Lee spoke about CEMVO’s funded programme for third sector support ‘Race for Human Rights’ and reflected on the work CEMVO does with the Scottish Government and the positive changes he has seen in the past few years. 

Was there any useful feedback or reflection from the participants?

Participants raised many good questions and reflections. At the heart of the discussion was a sense that more leadership is needed across the sector, and more action needs to be taken within organisations to begin to address the inequality and disadvantages caused by structural racism. 

How people can find out more or get involved in your work?

To follow up with the speakers on any of the points they made or the services provided directly.

Viana Maya – pRespect - https://www.prespect.co.uk/

Colin Lee – CEMVO - https://www.cemvoscotland.org.uk/

Sir Geoff Palmer - @sirgeoffpalmer

There was a lot of appetite for more in-depth collective thinking, leadership and action. SCVO is committed to our own internal journey to become an anti-racist organisation, and very keen to do this alongside the rest of the sector. If anyone would like a follow up chat with about other work you are doing, or how you would like to see this goodwill turn into real action please get in touch with Beth Mukushi – beth.mukushi@scvo.scot