Race Equality Hub Advisory Board
We're working with local communities, businesses and youth representatives to help shape the way in which we support Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities to achieve greater equality and diversity.
Your voice matters, take action on race equality - join our Hub Advisory Board
The Race Equality Hub is the first initiative of its kind in the UK, with a clear focus on securing the economic advancement of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, within the context of racial justice, to achieve a range of business, economic and social benefits.
Fundamental to the success of the Race Equality Hub is being informed and influenced by local communities, businesses and young people to help shape its work and future direction.
- Are you passionate about Racial Justice and do you want to work with others to tackle racism in the Liverpool City Region?
- Do you want to help unlock the untapped potential and secure the economic advancement of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic community members across the Liverpool City Region?
- Do you want to help shape the future of the Race Equality Hub?
The Race Equality Hub is creating an Advisory Board made up of people from across the Liverpool City Region who can bring fresh ideas, perspectives and contributions, as well as a critical voice, that will enable the Hub to make a real and long-lasting difference to the economic advancement of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities across the Liverpool City Region.
This page contains information about the Race Equality Hub Advisory Board and how you can get involved.
How the board will work
The new Race Equality Hub Advisory Board is being set up by Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Combined Authority in order to provide support and act as a critical friend to the Race Equality Hub.
The Race Equality Hub Advisory Board will be made up of 15 people representing the LCR geography and the diversity of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic community across the City Region and will actively ensure the voice of communities, businesses and young people are included. The Board will include 6 places, one for each of the City Region Boroughs, 3 places for businesses and 3 for young people.
The Race Equality Hub recognises that each individual will be able to bring their own perspective and experiences and so the Race Equality Hub’s outreach and engagement work will provide support for Advisory Board members to also hear other perspectives and experiences.
The Advisory Board will have the ability to co-opt people where required, to plug gaps in expertise or to ensure greater diversity.
The proposed structure of the Advisory Board will be as follows;
- LCRCA Executive Directors x 2
- Borough/Community Representatives x 6
- Business Representatives x 3
- Youth Representatives x 3
In Attendance: Race Equality Hub Programme Director
How to apply
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Race Equality Hub Advisory Board then please have a look at the draft terms of reference and if you would like to have an informal conversation before submitting an Expression of Interest then please contact Emy Onuora at [email protected].
We will also be holding two online sessions where you can find out more about the Race Equality Hub and about the Advisory Board. These will be on;
Monday 13th November at 5.00pm (18-25 year-olds only)
Wednesday 22nd November at 5.00pm
If you are interested in attending either of these sessions, please contact Emy Onuora at [email protected]
To apply, please submit the Expression of Interest form and the Equalities Monitoring Form to [email protected]. The deadline is Monday 27th November at 5.00pm and we expect to be in a position to launch the Race Equality Hub Advisory Board in January 2024.
If you would like to have an informal conversation about the role, this can be arranged by contacting Emy Onuora at [email protected].
Important documents
Selection process
Ensuring that the diversity of the voices of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic community members will form an important part of the selection criteria for the Advisory Board. This may mean that in some cases otherwise strong candidates may not be appointed to the board so as to secure that diversity.
Race Equality Hub Advisory Board
The work of the Advisory Board may include but will not be limited to;
- Ensure the Hub fully involves the widest range of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, stakeholders and partners in its work
- Enhance the Hub’s understanding of the challenges that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities face
- Provide perspectives on Hub activity and future programmes
- Assist in identifying new opportunities that will further the aims and objectives of the Hub
- Advise on the quality of services being delivered and identify gaps in provision
- Monitor the performance of the Hub and provide direction and support
- Advise on the future setup and operation of the Hub
Selection process
The Advisory Board will ensure that the Hub services are effectively serving the wide range of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities and that the Hub is responding to their current and emerging needs. To that end, the CA will endeavour to ensure that the Board reflect the communities that we represent across the city region. Therefore, demographic data will be considered when allocating seats on the Board.
The appointment panel will firstly select a Chair based on the specific requirements for this position. Following this, applicants will be selected for the remaining positions.
Getting the right kind of representation will form an important part of the criteria to select members of the Advisory Board. This may mean that in some cases, otherwise strong candidates may not be appointed to the board in favour of others from under-represented minority ethnic groups or from areas of LCR where there is a lack of representation or to obtain an appropriate gender balance.
A message from your Mayor
The Liverpool City Region is a place with a long and proud history of doing things differently.
Throughout our existence, it is our region that has been the engine that powers wider social change. From pioneering reformers like Kitty Wilkinson and Eleanor Rathbone, to modern-day campaigners like Gee Walker and the Hillsborough families.
As Mayor, it is my responsibility to protect and grow that legacy; to use my platform to amplify our communities and bring about lasting change. That is the very essence of devolution.
Our area’s most valuable natural resource is its people. Passionate, creative, resilient and bold, they are the bedrock of our fortunes and the key to our success.
But the truth is that, in our society, all people have not been treated equally. Centuries of entrenched inequality have kept too many in our community down.
In our region’s usual enterprising way, we are hoping to turn that negative into a positive that will deliver a lasting legacy and, ultimately, a fairer region.
Our Race Equality Hub is the first of its kind. A bold, innovative approach that is putting power into the hands of underrepresented groups and giving them the freedom and tools to help level the playing field.
It will work with employers, schools, communities, in addition to further and higher education institutions to not only bring greater diversity to our region but to harness the untapped skills, knowledge and potential of our Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities.
The more inclusive workforce we’re building doesn’t just make moral sense – it’s makes good business sense too. Diversifying our workforce would generate an estimated £300m for our economy – which is an opportunity that we simply cannot afford to miss out on.
I’m under no illusions. I know that I don’t have the monopoly on good ideas – and nor should I. My job is to support and empower our region’s residents to reach their full potential. Because for too long, it has been a lack of opportunity, not talent, that has held our people back.
This is an unusual thing for a politician to say: but I don’t know where the Race Equality Hub will go. No area has done this before. But I’m excited to see where it ends up because I have confidence in Alison and the team to make it an effective and impactful tool in shattering the glass ceiling holding our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic residents back.
Steve Rotheram
