RACEquality NETWORK LAUNCHED AS PART OF SPORT-WIDE COMMITMENT TO TACKLE RACIAL INEQUALITY

Following last year’s very successful Let’s Talk about Race programme a new RACEquality Network has launched to help both UKA and the Home Countries Athletics Federations tackle racial inequality within the sport.

The Let’s Talk about Race (LTAR) programme began following the murder of George Floyd and led to a number of focus group sessions taking place throughout the Summer of 2020 which considered many aspects of UKA’s work and its impact on race.   The establishment of the RACEquality Network was a key outcome from these discussions.

Lorna Dwyer, UKA’s Senior Performance Coordinator with more than 30 years experience working within the governing body, will chair the RACEquality Network, said: “I am extremely pleased to be the chair of the RACEquality Network and honoured to be working with a number of individuals who are integral to our sport.   As a network we will be embracing equality in everything we do across the sport.  We have listened to our athletics family through the Let’s Talk About Race sessions and now it is time to walk the talk! It is important that race equality is embedded in our culture and is inclusive for everyone.”

She will be supported on the network by the LTAR focus group chairs joining as core members.  The RACEquality Network will evolve and be open to the athletics family to join in the initiatives and the conversation around racial inequalities in athletics.

The RACEquality Network will review and monitor the “Let’s Talk about Race” programme captured in the UKA Diversity Action Plan 2021-2024.  In addition it will support race, religion and belief advocates with their initiatives as well as the Race at Work Charter commitment.

Joanna Coates, CEO of UKA said “This is such a key Network for us going forward.  I am delighted that we have put together such an inclusive and diverse group to ensure views from across the sport at all levels are heard.  I am committed to our challenging ambition to ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion remain at the very heart of what we do and this Network will be key to this.”

The new Network will meet a minimum of four times annually with additional ad hoc meetings to discuss specific matters or issues that arise.

Core members of the RACEquality Network:

▪    Lorna Dwyer (Chair) – Senior Performance Age Group Co-ordinator and UKA ED&I Advocate

▪    Donna Fraser – UKA ED&I Lead

▪    Imani Lansiquot – International Athlete and UKA ED&I Athlete Advocate

▪    Kadeena Cox – International Athlete and UKA ED&I Athlete Advocate

▪    Leon Baptiste – Athletics Coach

▪    Marcus Opoku – Level 2 Field Official

▪    Mark Draisey – UKA CFO and Executive Champion for Race

▪    Melanie Anning – Level 2 Field Official and Communications Specialist

▪    Michael Afilaka – Athletics Coach

▪    Poora Singh – Sports Osteopath Lead

▪    Sabrina Pace-Humphreys – Co-Founder of Black Trail Runners and Communications Specialist

▪  Yannick Phippen – Events Co-ordinator and UKA ED&I Advocate