Race Equality Week: why this work matters now more than ever

At the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) and Think Local Act Personal (TLAP), our mission isn’t abstract. It’s about improving outcomes for people in receipt of care and support, ensuring their voices are central to the services they rely on. It’s about recognising inequality where it exists and taking deliberate action to make things fairer. For example:

• We’ve worked on projects to make direct payments more culturally responsive, so older people from racialised communities feel seen and respected. You can read more about this in our blog: “Direct Payments and the Power of Culturally Competent Care”.
• We challenge recruitment and leadership practices in care organisations to open doors that were historically closed to people from diverse backgrounds. This is evident in the fact that Clenton and I, coming from the global majority and drawing on our lived experience, are thriving in these roles, supporting wider involvement and leading by example. You can learn more about the TLAP team driving this change here.
• We amplify lived experience through research, guidance, and training, making sure those who experience care most directly shape the services designed for them; co-production underpins all that we do.

Why does this matter? Because race equity is not a “nice to have”, it is fundamental to human dignity, fairness, and social justice. Without it, we risk perpetuating harm and leaving communities behind. With it, we create services that work better for everyone, because care that recognises difference is care that works.

This week, and every week, I’m proud to be part of an organisation that doesn’t just talk about race equity, but acts on it in ways that make real differences to people’s lives. Race Equality Week is a chance to celebrate that work, reflect on what more we need to do, and amplify voices that have too often been ignored.

As we move forward, let’s remember: advancing equality is not a one‑off event, it’s everyday, hands‑on work that changes lives for the better.

Because at the end of the day, fairness isn’t just a policy, it’s the care we give and the support we provide.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

There are lots of ways to get involved in Race Equality Week 2026. To find out more, please visit the Race Equality Matters website: Race Equality Matters