The Ethnically Diverse Advice Providers Network is a project hosted by the Advice Services Alliance (ASA). The network focuses attention on ethnic communities providing and seeking advice.
We recognise that decades of racial injustice and inequality have created a culture of self-help and self-determination for many of London’s diverse communities. Racial inequality and injustice remain key in community care, criminal justice, education, health, housing, and social welfare provision and access in the UK.
While the funding for this project is focused on London, we know that there are other localities (urban and rural) where, ethnically diverse advice providers play a pivotal role in the local ecosystem of support. The approach adopted to supporting such groups must be ‘place-based’ and take into account local trends, needs, and concerns – as such, we will draw on our learning from London to support work across the UK.
At ASA, we are clear that we are not experts in the lived experience of ethnically diverse communities. Still, we can leverage our understanding of the advice and voluntary sector and use our power and privilege to make contacts and introductions and help forge new relationships where London’s ethnically diverse advice providers can access more opportunities and contribute on a level playing field to our collective debate.
In this context, ASA will always check its power and privilege as individuals working and volunteering within the organization and as a collective. We will always welcome constructive debate when we need more in our approach and intention to promote ethnically diverse advice providers.
Some movements have become formally constituted and delivered ground breaking work helping individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Yet, this has to be viewed against a broader system of institutional discrimination and unconscious bias in both the advice, voluntary, and funding sectors. This is why we have looked to act.
The Ethnically Diverse Advice Providers Network works on three levels:
- Individual – supporting individuals from ethnically diverse backgrounds who may be working in ‘by and for organisations, as well as other organizations who may find themselves subject to discrimination and a lack of career opportunities and progress
- Organisational – We walk alongside organisations that need some assistance. Our ‘can do, will do’ approach recognizes the limitations and structural disadvantages that ethnically diverse groups can and do face. We believe contemporary forms of capacity building and organisational support are based on Eurocentric models of top-down, paternalistic delivery. We know and recognize your expertise and aim to help create a level playing field for you, your organisation, and your service users.
- Sector and societal change – Too often, ethnically diverse organisations are overlooked or seen as ‘bid candy’ for other organisations. That is not fair. We aim to help amplify the voice and work of ethnically diverse providers and ensure that advice policies, procedures, practices, and critical stakeholders such as local, central government, the public, private sector, and the wider charitable sector all understand the needs and concerns of ethnically diverse providers .
How do we do this?
We provide:
- Bespoke one-to-one support for organisations, including trustees of ethnically diverse advice providers. The support is tailored to your needs and concerns.
- A race and ethnicity-based analysis of public policy, consultations by local and central government, and funding/commissioning relationships related to advice provision
- Help find allies and support for organisations and individuals experiencing discrimination and marginalisation due to their ethnic identity.
A note on language
The debate on terminology concerning race and ethnicity is a live issue in many government sectors, the public, private, and voluntary sectors. Language is a fluid term, and we will always aim to use supportive, empowering, and inclusive language. We have settled on ethnically diverse (encompassing the broad range of ethnicities in the capital ). Where possible, we will always look to be more specific in our description and identification of issues within specific ethnic groups. We welcome advice and support on the evolution of our language and thinking.
For more information, contact us.