Together’s Commitment to Anti-Racism
At Together for Mental Wellbeing we stand against all forms of racism and alongside those who stand against racism in all its forms
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people have – for far too long – experienced a range of health, social and economic disparities as a consequence of discrimination and prejudice. At Together, we work alongside many people who experience multiple disadvantages and inequality. We have seen this starkly reflected in the negative and disproportionate impact of global catastrophe, as with the Covid-19 pandemic, on Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities all over the world.
It is important to acknowledge that, in addition to these communities, other marginalised groups experience inequality and oppression on a daily basis. At Together, we are committed to fighting discrimination in all its forms.
We will be unwavering in our actions against racism within our own organisation, and within the broader charity sector. We pledge to our staff and the people who use our services that if they ever experience any form of racial discrimination directly or through insensitive comments, or witness it when directed towards others, that they feel able to raise concerns without fear of repercussions and are confident in our responses. If we have ever fallen short in the past, then as an organisation we are truly sorry. That should never have happened. We are committed to learning by listening, and that is how we aim to continuously improve.
‘We pledge to our staff and the people who use our services that if they ever experience any form of racial discrimination directly, through insensitive casual comments, or witness it when directed towards others, they will feel able to raise concerns without fear of repercussions, and can be confident in our responses’.
We have a Code of Conduct in all of our employment contracts, and have Equality and Diversity and HR policies that set out the expectations and requirements for all staff to abide by. If staff have experiences that do not meet our commitment or their own expectations, we urge them to speak to their manager, a colleague, our Workforce Representatives Council, or seek redress through our Grievance Policy. We also encourage the people who use our services and staff to make use of our complaints and whistleblowing procedures.
Our People Strategy directs that “we must mobilise the diversity of our workforce to create an inclusive, kind, caring and creative workplace”. Our values are key in helping us to promote and act on this vital equality and diversity principle within our organisation: collaboration, integrity, continuous learning and improvement, resilience, and choice through involvement.
At Together, we take pride in our commitment to service user leadership and peer support; to giving voice to the irreplaceable value of lived experience that is so crucial to not only strengthening our services, but to tackling the systemic discrimination and injustices in our society as a whole. We believe that this commitment builds a strong base for us to act on racism and build an organisational community based on diversity, equity and inclusion. We have strong values and a principle of “working alongside” – and just as we work alongside the people who use our services, we will listen to the perspective of all those who are most affected by distress in any form.