One hundred groups commit to challenge racism
NEARCOne hundred organisations across the north-east of England have signed up to create action plans to challenge racism.
The North East Anti-Racism Coalition (NEARC) was founded in the wake of anti-immigration riots in the region, sparked by misinformation surrounding the murders of three girls in Southport in 2024.
NHS trusts, councils, companies and charities are among groups to have signed up to a campaign called Become the Bridge, committing to create or share a strategy within 12 months, and share what they have learned with other organisations.
Co-founder Ngozi Lyn Cole said the campaign was "solution focused", adding: "It's not just about talking. We've been talking for a long, long time."
As part of the campaign it has been running workshops, which included discussions on ways to challenge racism, and said it would monitor the progress.
NEARC said anti-racism was the practice of identifying and ending racism by changing the values, structures and behaviours that enable it.
It had already received action plans, which included ensuring all leaders had completed inclusivity training, and embedding "equality impact assessments" into policies.
'Feel safe'
On reaching the 100 milestone in late May, Cole said she was "so grateful" and people were "really keen when it comes to challenging racism for a stronger, fairer North East, which is where we all want to live and work".
Adopters included South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust, Northumbria Water and the Cleveland, Durham and Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC).
In the six months following unrest in Sunderland and across Teesside, police in the region recorded a significant rise in racial and religious hate crimes.
Cole said the riots had felt like a "slap in the face" because the North East has a reputation for being warm and welcoming.
On signing up last month, Cleveland PCC Matt Storey said racism continued to "be a problem for people in our region", and said it reinforced their commitment to "make it a place where everyone can belong and feel safe".
Meanwhile, the NEARC said it was working to offer the same resources to individuals, and had commissioned research to study racism in the area.
