New Race Equality Panel holds first meeting

Greater Manchester’s new Race Equality Panel has held its first meeting to bring together leaders from across the city-region’s diverse communities.

The panel’s 24 members were chosen for their skills, knowledge and connection with their communities following a recruitment process which took place during September and October, gathering 163 applicants. Despite being originally announced by Andy Burnham in 2019, creation of the panel had been delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Race Equality Panel will be tasked with challenging and supporting public services in Greater Manchester to tackle systemic inequalities, racism and discrimination. Its remit will involve tackling:

• Educational inequalities and achievement
• Employment and labour market inequalities
• Financial inclusion and poverty
• Hate crime and preventing discrimination
• Health and wellbeing inequality
• Housing and homelessness, including hidden homelessness

In early 2021, the panel has agreed to focus on input to the  Independent Inequalities Commission report into systemic racism in Greater Manchester and shaping and responding to Greater Manchester Police’s Race Equality Policing report, following a pledge in response to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Mayor Andy Burnham said:

We had a very high quality field of applicants for this panel and the 24 people chosen have all already made a real difference in their communities through tackling racism and discrimination.

“We have not been good enough making the changes that are needed to eliminate discrimination and ensure fairness.

“This panel will now be a platform to bring about further more substantial change and to turn our words into actions.

“The panel will provide challenge and support so Greater Manchester can achieve its goal of being a place where all voices are heard and where, working together, we can shape our future.”

Brenda Warrington, leader for Age Friendly Greater Manchester and Equalities, said:

The Covid-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement have shone a light on the long-standing inequalities and discrimination that exists in our society.

“We have to do more to increase equity and to improve relationships across our communities and with public services.

“This panel will provide valuable insight into our diverse communities and enable political leaders to listen and act in a more targeted way.”

The Race Equality Panel will work alongside other advisory groups set up by Andy Burnham. Its membership comprises:

• Maqsood Ahmad – British Muslim Heritage Centre
• Janice Allen – Rochdale headteacher
• Adam Danquah – Senior lecturer in clinical psychology
• Sophia Begum -Tameside support worker
• David Berkley – lawyer
• Faye Bruce – health campaigner
• Elizabeth Cameron – trainer and public speaker in race equality and diversity
• Kailash Chand OBE – Honorary vice president of the BMA
• Jay Charara – Social psychologist
• Elinor Chohan MBE – Led awareness raising of the Bosnian genocide
• Priya Chopra – Worked within the domestic abuse field for over 20 years
• Kush Chottera – Passionate about empowering communities and individuals by focusing on their assets and achievements.
• Khadijah Diskin – PhD candidate and activist
• Falah Ghafori-Kanno – campaigner to promote better understanding and contribute to the tackling of discrimination and prejudice.
• Aba Graham – campaigner to create opportunities within the Black community.
• Martin Ingham-Griffith – youth and community worker
• Sharmila Kar – Senior workforce and organisational development and Inclusion professional
• Dr Charles Leyman Kachitsa – Community leader, academician and entrepreneur
• Alyson Malach – Post-16 and SEN teacher
• Zara Manoehoetoe – Youth worker
• Saba Mirshafiei – trade unionist.
• Parkash Bobby Singh – IT professional
• Circle Steele: Chief executive of Wai Yin
• Dr Maria Zubair – Academic researcher