MANAGING GRASSROOTS - Race Equality Week

Race Equality Is Built in Communities, Not Headlines

Race Equality Week invites us to look beyond statements and slogans, and to reflect on the people and actions that quietly shape fairer, more inclusive communities every day. For me, that work has never been about visibility or profile. It has always been about service, consistency, and values.

Much of what I do is rooted in a simple belief: *inclusion should not be optional, seasonal, or symbolic — it should be built into how we show up for one another*.

Project Santa: Dignity, Not Charity

That belief is perhaps most visible through Project Santa, which I founded and continue to chair. What began as a small act of seasonal kindness has grown into one of the North East’s most impactful grassroots initiatives.

To date, Project Santa has raised the equivalent of *£45,000*, delivering gifts, food, and essential support to families facing hardship. But the most important outcome has never been the numbers. It’s the sense of dignity, visibility, and care that families experience — especially those who are often unseen or unheard.

Race equality isn’t only about challenging discrimination when it appears. It’s also about recognising how poverty, marginalisation, and exclusion intersect — and responding with compassion that doesn’t judge or patronise.

Inclusion by Default, Not by Design

My commitment to fairness and representation extends beyond one organisation. Through my role as a director of *ABC Connexions* and my work with the *Inclusion by Default* campaign, I’ve focused on challenging systemic exclusion.

Too often, inclusion is treated as an add-on — something considered after decisions have already been made. Inclusion by Default flips that thinking. It asks organisations to embed equity at the very start: in leadership, policy, culture, and accountability.

That work is not always comfortable. It involves honest conversations, listening to lived experience, and being willing to change long-standing practices. But it is essential if race equality is to be meaningful rather than performative.

Allyship That Amplifies Others

Race equality also demands strong allyship — especially when it comes to gender, voice, and representation. Supporting The Awesome Women campaign has been one way I’ve tried to use my influence to amplify women’s voices, celebrate achievement, and champion equity.

True allyship isn’t about speaking for others. It’s about creating space, sharing platforms, and making sure leadership reflects the diversity of the communities it serves.

Representation Matters — In Media and Justice

Representation has always mattered deeply to me. As a founding director of *Spice FM*, the North East’s only Asian radio station, I’ve seen first-hand the power of media in shaping belonging. The station has provided a vital platform for under-represented communities, strengthening cultural connection and visibility across the region.

Alongside this, my role as a *Magistrate* allows me to serve within the justice system with integrity, compassion, and fairness — values that are crucial in addressing the disproportionate impact systems can have on racialised communities.

I’m also proud to have helped raise *£20,000 for Cancer Research UK*, because equity in health outcomes is another vital part of the equality conversation.

Quiet Leadership, Lasting Impact

I’ve never believed that impact requires ego. The most meaningful change often happens quietly — through relationships built over time, consistent action, and a willingness to serve rather than be seen.

Race Equality Week is an opportunity to recognise that grassroots leadership matters. Community cohesion matters. And service, when driven by values rather than recognition, has the power to shape regions — quietly, but profoundly.

If race equality is to move forward, it will be because ordinary people continue to do extraordinary things for others, every single day.

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Written by Amit Bahanda, ABC Director