Runnymede Trust

The Runnymede Trust is a race equality think tank. It was founded in 1968 by Jim Rose and Anthony Lester[1] as an independent source for generating intelligence for a multi-ethnic Britain through research, network building, leading debate and policy engagement.[2] It is led by its director, Dr Halima Begum, who was appointed in September 2020.[3] Its chairman is Sir Clive Jones.[4]

Policy areas

Runnymede undertakes research in the following areas:[5]

The Runnymede Trust has acted as secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Race and Community since the start of 2010, and holds the secretariat of the UK Race and Europe Network (UKREN), a UK-wide network of more than 200 organisations involved in race relations and combating racism at a local, national or European level.[6]

Research and campaigns

COVID-19

Runnymede has been a leading source of research and data confirming the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black and Minority Ethnic communities in Great Britain. Its survey of 2,585 adults, Over-exposed and Under-protected identified Bangladeshi and Black African communities as most vulnerable, and warned that important public safety and economic contingency measures - including "Stay Home" messaging and furlough advice - were not reaching BAME communities. A statement from the Department of Health said, "We know that Covid-19 has had a disproportionate effect on people from BAME backgrounds ... and the equalities minister is now taking forward vital work to tackle these disparities and protect our most vulnerable communities from the impact of the virus."[7]

In October of 2020, Runnymede published a blog with the Institute for Public Policy Research calling on the government to set out a comprehensive strategy to mitigate ethnic inequalities for the subsequent months of the pandemic. Their research suggested this strategy should tackle two key inequalities. Firstly, because almost all minority ethnic groups are more likely to get Covid-19, the government should put in place measures to better protect these communities and support people to isolate. Secondly, the consequences and harms associated with Covid-19 for most minority ethnic groups, once they have caught it, are more severe. This means the government must ensure that minority ethnic groups have better access to treatment than they currently do.[8]

Windrush scandal

Runnymede took a prominent role during the unravelling of the Windrush scandal and were acknowledged by the UK Government in bringing the injustice to light. Working with the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, Runnymede organised a meeting of 14 Caribbean High Commissioners with Downing Street officials and the Prime Minister at the time, Theresa May. This meeting was organised in parallel to another meeting in Parliament, where 5 of those citizens directly affected were able to discuss their treatment to 40 parliamentarians, including the Immigration Minister and Leader of the Opposition. Runnymede was subsequently named as the only civil society representative on the Windrush Lessons Learned Review Advisory Group and one of The Guardian's five Christmas appeal charities.

"Our Migration Story"

In 2016 Runnymede launched "Our Migration Story: The Making of Britain", a collaboration with academics based at the universities of Cambridge and Manchester. The website is designed to support teachers and students studying migration to Britain and aims to present the 'often untold stories of the generations of migrants who came to and shaped the British Isles' through interactive source material spanning four time-period categories: AD43–1500; 1500–1750; 1750–1900; 1900–2000s. The website also gives access to multiple teaching resources including lesson plans and classroom activities.

"Our Migration Story" was awarded the Royal Historical Society Public History Prize for Best Online Resource in 2018, named as a Research Champion in the 2017 Community Integration Awards and won The Guardian University Award for Research Impact in 2019.[9]

"Lit in Colour"

In October 2020, Runnymede launched "Lit in Colour" with Penguin Books, a research project to better understand the gaps in the teaching and learning of books by ethnic minority writers in UK primary and secondary schools and produce recommendations for change. As part of the research, The Runnymede Trust consults with teachers and students to ensure these recommendations are practical and informed by the realities of the classroom.[10]

The completed research is due to be released in summer 2021, along with some concrete recommendations to support inclusive teaching and learning in schools.

Essays on class and race

In 2009, Runnymede published a collection of essays by leading thinkers on race and class, considering the relationship between social class and race equality. They argued that the white working class is discriminated against on a range of different fronts, but they are not discriminated against for being white.[11][12]

Antisemitism

In 1992, The Runnymede Trust set up a committee to examine antisemitism in the UK. In 1994, after two years of research, the committee published its final report, A Very Light Sleeper - The persistence & dangers of antisemitism.[13]

Faith schools

Runnymede published research in 2008 concluding that faith schools in England must become schools for all children in order to encourage interaction between people of different faiths and ethnicities. The report was published after a two-year investigation into the impact that faith schools have on community cohesion.[14][15]

Islamophobia

In 1996, Runnymede established a Commission on British Muslims and Islamophobia, chaired by Gordon Conway, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sussex, and published Islamophobia: A Challenge for us All in 1997.[16] The report, which was launched by Labour Home Secretary Jack Straw, was largely responsible for popularising the term Islamophobia in British political discourse.[17][18]

Commission on the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain

In 1997, Runnymede established the Commission on the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain to consider the political and cultural implications of the changing diversity of the UK. The commission was chaired by Lord Professor Bhikhu Parekh. The commission published its findings and recommendations in October 2000. Two-thirds of its recommendations were accepted by the government.[19]

Senior staff

Chairpeople

Directors
  • Dr. Halima Begum, 2020–
  • Dr. Omar Khan, 2014–2020
  • Dr. Rob Berkeley, 2009–2014
  • Michelynn Lafleche, 2001–2008
  • Sukhvinder Stubbs 1996–2000
  • Robin Richardson, 1991–1996
  • Kenneth Leech, 1987–1991
  • Ann Dummett, 1984–1987
  • Usha Prashar, 1977–1984
  • Tom Rees, 1975–1977
  • David Stephen, 1973–1975
  • Dipak Nandy, 1968–1973[20]

Partnerships

Runnymede has operated within numerous ongoing partnerships alongside organisations working in intersecting fields. The most prominent of these are:

Funding

The Runnymede Trust is a registered charity under English law.[21] In the past funding has been wide ranging, from high-street banks to TV companies. The most significant donors are:

Media coverage

2020
  • Halima Begum, "How COVID-19 tore through my BAME London neighbourhood", Thomson Reuters Foundation. 22/10/2020.[22]
  • Halima Begum, "Ethnicity pay gap at lowest level since 2012, new data suggests" Sky News report. 12/10/2020.[23]
  • Halima Begum, Tom Weldon, "We must help all students find belonging in books through a diverse curriculum", The Independent. 21/10/2020.[24]
  • Parth Patel, Report on higher COVID-19 risk among minority ethnic groups. Channel 4 News. 20/10/2020.
  • Halima Begum, Report on Covid Ethnicity Report. BBC News. 25/10/2020.
  • Halima Begum. Report on Harry and Meghan racism protests. BBC News. 3/10/2020.
  • Kimberly McIntosh, "No more empty apologies for Windrush. Britain has to face the ugly truth about empire, starting with education", The Independent. 21/03/2020.[25]
  • Halima Begum, Carys Roberts, "Covid-19: ethnic minorities should get priority for testing and support". The Times. 28/10/2020.[26]
  • Halima Begum, "So the ethnicity pay gap is over? If only things were that simple." The Guardian. 15/10/2020.[27]
  • Omar Khan, "Islamophobia and racism aren’t restricted to a few Tories and far-right thugs." The Guardian. 10/03/2020.[28]

2019
  • Omar Khan, "The government has failed to learn the lessons of Windrush." New Statesman. 18/04/2020.[29]

2018
  • Kimberly McIntosh, Irum Shehreen Ali, "Brexit will hit ethnic minorities harder. Why is this ignored?" The Guardian. 22/11/2020.[30]
  • Kimberly McIntosh, "Speaking English the problem for minorities? Hardly …", The Guardian. 18/03/2018.[31]

References
  1. "Biennial Jim Rose Lecture". The Runnymede Trust. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  2. "Runnymede Trust / About Us". Runnymedetrust.org. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  3. "Dr Halima Begum is Runnymede's new Director". The Runnymede Trust. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  4. "Runnymede Trust / Staff Team". Runnymedetrust.org. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  5. Projects, Runnymede. Archived February 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. UK Race and Europe Network, Runnymede. Archived April 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. Collinson, Anna (5 August 2020). "Coronavirus: Ethnic minorities 'over-exposed' to Covid-19". BBC News.
  8. "Ethnic inequalities in Covid-19 are playing out again – how can we stop them?". The Progressive Policy Think Tank. 19 October 2020.
  9. "Our Migration Story". Our Migration Story. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  10. "Lit in Colour". Penguin Books. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  11. "Runnymede Trust / Publications". Runnymedetrust.org. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  12. Travis, Alan (22 January 2009). "Class blamed for bias against poor whites". The Guardian. London.
  13. ""A Very Light Sleeper - The persistence & dangers of antisemitism"". Runnymedetrust.org. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  14. "Runnymede Trust / Publications". Runnymedetrust.org. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  15. "Faith schools 'serve privileged'". BBC News. 4 December 2008.
  16. Runnymede Trust (1997). "Islamophobia: A Challenge for Us All". www.runnymedetrust.org. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  17. Thomas-Johnson, Amandla. "'A challenge for us all': Study highlights prevalent Islamophobia in UK". Middle East Eye. In 1997, a landmark report by race equality think tank Runnymede Trust introduced the word 'Islamophobia' into public discourse.
  18. Streeting, Wes (15 May 2019). "Yes, Islamophobia is a type of racism. Here's why | Wes Streeting". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  19. "Runnymede Trust / Commission on the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain". Runnymedetrust.org. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  20. "Runnymede Activities Report 2002/3" (PDF). Runnymedetrust.org. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  21. Charity Commission. THE RUNNYMEDE TRUST, registered charity no. 1063609.
  22. Begum, Halima (22 October 2020). "How COVID-19 tore through my BAME London neighbourhood". Thomson Reuters Foundation.
  23. Begum, Halima (12 October 2020). "Ethnicity pay gap at lowest level since 2012, new data suggests". Sky News.
  24. Begum, Halima; Tom Weldon (21 October 2020). "We must help all students find belonging in books through a diverse curriculum". The Independent.
  25. McIntosh, Kimberly (21 March 2020). "No more empty apologies for Windrush. Britain has to face the ugly truth about empire, starting with education". The Independent.
  26. Begum, Halima; Carys Roberts (28 October 2020). "Covid-19: ethnic minorities should get priority for testing and support". The Times.
  27. Begum, Halima (15 October 2020). "So the ethnicity pay gap is over? If only things were that simple". The Guardian.
  28. Khan, Omar (10 March 2020). "Islamophobia and racism aren't restricted to a few Tories and far-right thugs". The Guardian.
  29. Khan, Omar (18 April 2020). "The government has failed to learn the lessons of Windrush". New Statesman.
  30. McIntosh, Kimberly; Irum Shehreen Ali (22 November 2020). "Brexit will hit ethnic minorities harder. Why is this ignored?". The Guardian.
  31. McIntosh, Kimberly (18 March 2018). "Speaking English the problem for minorities? Hardly …". The Guardian.
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