Re: Call for investigation into sector's diversity deficit, 22.3.06
Dear Sir or Madam
Victor Adebowale is right to call for an inquiry into the voluntary sector’s failure to promote and employ minority groups. (Call for investigation into sector’s diversity deficit, 22.3.06)
In my experience the voluntary sector is very complacent when it comes to dealing effectively with ethnic minority issues.
For the past 20 years regular attendance at local, national and international conferences has illustrated painfully the under-representation of ethnic and religious communities within the sector.
Many organisations believe that because they deal with the vulnerable in society they cannot possibly discriminate.
In fact, the private and public sectors take diversity much more seriously. In the past five years QED has helped over 700 managers to learn more about our diverse communities. Almost all of these have been companies in either the public or private sector.
Our sector must do a lot more to reflect ethnic diversity at all levels, in both its staffing and governance.
QED is currently running a project offering free diversity training for businesses and organisations.
Once again we have specifically targeted the voluntary sector, and once again there has been very little interest in the scheme from the voluntary sector. I would strongly urge all organisations to sign-up immediately by visiting www.qed-edp.org.
For too long in the voluntary sector there has been too much rhetoric about improving diversity and not enough action. Now is the time for action.
Yours sincerely
Dr Mohammed Ali OBE
Chief Executive
QED-UK
Quest House
243 Manningham Lane
Bradford
BD8 7ER
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