Black History Month: anti-racism support for staff

At Reading, we strive to foster an environment that is inclusive. Everyone has a role to play in actively opposing racism and discrimination. 

This Black History Month, we are promoting a range of training and development opportunities to help you challenge racism, and opportunities to share your views on what more needs to be done to support diversity and inclusion at the University. 

For the full event listings, see the University of Reading Black History Month calendar.

Training and development

• Let’s talk about race: anti-racism training: This online course will further support you to address racial bias consciously and proactively across the University. You can sign up and complete the training any time at UoR Learn.
• Unconscious bias training: Learn about how we all carry unconscious biases, and begin to develop the tools to tackle them at work. You can sign up and complete the training at any time on UoR Learn.
• Active Bystander training (24 October): This innovative and award-winning training gives you the skills to challenge unacceptable behaviours, including those which may have become normalised over time. If you can’t make October’s session, other dates are available. See UoR Learn for more information.
• Access courses on LinkedIn Learning, available to University of Reading staff. Highlights include Discussing Racism with Dr Christina Green and Just Ask: Kwame Christian on discussing race.
• The Employers Network for Equality Inclusion hosts a video archive and resources that colleagues can access on anti-racism throughout Black History Month and beyond.

Meet your BAME+ Allies Staff Network

You can meet the BAME+ Allies Staff Network at drop in sessions at our Whiteknights (4 October) and London Road (11 October) campuses, and shape the work of staff and student BAME networks at a collaborative workshop to establish priorities for coming year (18 October).

How to be a good ally

The BAME+ Allies Staff Network has the following advice for colleagues starting their allyship journey:

1. Join the BAME Network Allies Channel on MS Teams by emailing bame.network@reading.ac.uk
2. Read the Race Equality Review. 
3. Learn more through our BAME Allyship resource pack.
4. Complete Anti-racist training, Unconscious Bias training and Active Bystander training on UoR Learn
5. Sign-up and support BAME-led initiatives and events. 
6. Initiate & grow a BAME allies group in your school/function.
7. Follow blackhistorymonth.org.uk and raceequalitymatters.com
8. Keep in touch at bame.network@reading.ac.uk

Wear red on 20 October to Show Racism the Red Card

Staff are also encouraged to show their commitment to combatting racism by taking part in Wear Red Day (20 October). Show Racism the Red Card is a leading anti-racism education charity, working to challenge racism in sport and society. Over 440,000 people registered their support for Wear Red Day in 2022. For more information about the initiative, visit www.theredcard.org/wear-red-day.