Grow Board Diversity | Action for Trustee Racial Diversity

Eastside People has partnered with Board Racial Diversity UK (BRD UK), the charity set up to increase racial diversity in not for profit boards.

Eastside People has partnered with 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.

As part of the partnership agreement, Eastside People have provided funding support to enable the development of targeted joint initiatives, such as Action Not Words, and will promote every trustee and Chair vacancy on its books to Board Connects (BRD UK’s peer support network for Black and Asian aspiring and current trustees) and Black and Asian Future Chairs’ Academy (BAFCA) members.

Action Not Words (ANW)

As part of an Action Not Words (ANW) mentoring programme, a team of volunteers from across Eastside People’s expert consultancy group are delivering 1:1 CV coaching, interview skills training and mentoring support to help candidates take on trustee roles.

The first cohort of 21 BRD UK mentees have now completed their 6-month ANW mentoring programme with Eastside People’s volunteers. The programme has had a positive impact for mentees and mentors with an average rating of 9.5 out of 10 recommending the programme to others. Four mentees have already successfully gained trustee roles.

‘I just wanted to let you all know that I’ve accepted my first board role…..and I’m excited for the experience ahead. Many thanks to Malcolm (John) for your amazing support and opportunity to engage with governance theoretically and practically via ATRD and now Board Racial Diversity UK…to the ANW programme, and to my mentor who was amazing in providing both encouragement as well as the concrete tools that have helped me reach this point.’

Mentors have also gained a great deal from the sessions they have shared with mentees.

‘It has been rewarding to see how mentoring can help support someone to grow more confident and find their voice on the board.’

Sign up to be a mentee

Are you a new or aspiring Black or Asian trustee looking to build your confidence, gain support, and grow your impact in the not-for-profit sector?

Board Racial Diversity UK and Eastside People have now opened applications to sign up as a mentee for the second ANW mentoring programme.

You will be matched with an experienced Chair/Co-chair or trustee from Eastside People’s network for up to six one hour mentoring sessions, offering practical guidance, encouragement, and community.

We are looking for 20 mentees to join the programme with mentoring starting in Autumn 2025.

If you would like to be a mentee please complete this mentee sign up form so we can match you to a mentor.

Increase racial diversity in charity boards

Action Not Words (ANW)

Sign up to be a mentee

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