Increase racial diversity in charity boards

Eastside People has partnered with Board Racial Diversity UK ( BRD UK), to jointly tackle the issues around the longstanding and seemingly intractable under-representation of people from Black and Asian communities on trustee boards. With research showing that only 8% of trustees in UK charities are from Black and Asian backgrounds and under 3% are “women of colour” (fewer than 20,000 out of 700.000), the charity sector clearly has much to do. 

Action Not Words Mentoring Programme

Action Not Words, delivered by Eastside People in partnership with Board Racial Diversity UK (BRD UK), is our annual mentoring programme supporting aspiring or new Black and Asian trustees taking their first steps into governance.

Over six months, mentees receive tailored one-to-one support from experienced trustees and chairs from Eastside People’s consultant network. The programme offers practical guidance on trustee responsibilities, CV and interview preparation, navigating first board roles, and real-time problem-solving as mentees build their confidence and experience.

We are delighted that the second cohort has now successfully concluded, building on the achievements and impact of the first programme. Across both cohorts, Action Not Words has helped mentees strengthen their understanding of charity governance, develop the confidence to apply for trustee roles, and access the encouragement and practical tools needed to contribute effectively at board level.

Previous mentees have described the programme as both confidence-building and practically useful:

‘I’ve accepted my first board role…and I’m excited for the experience ahead. The ANW programme and my mentor provided both encouragement and the concrete tools that helped me reach this point.’  Action Not Words Mentee 2025-26

Applications are now open for mentees to join the third cohort, which starts in October 2026.

If you are an aspiring or new Black or Asian trustee looking for a practical, supportive and confidence-building route into charity governance, we encourage you to apply.

If you are interested in being considered for the third Action Not Words mentoring programme, please complete the form via the button below.