August 2024 UK Riots Statement

BAMEed Wales executive committee are horrified to see the racist and Islamophobic attacks around the UK over the past week. Our solidarity goes out to our network members, as well as BAME teachers and educators around the UK who have been physically and emotionally affected by these riots. We stand with students, learners, and parents from diverse communities across Wales and the UK who have been affected by the news of these riots.

As educators, we understand the importance of education in addressing racism, Islamophobia, in countering ignorance and misinformation. BAMEed Wales have always advocated for an anti-racist and inclusive curriculum across educational institutions in our nation, and our work is more important now than ever before.

As a nation, Wales must not be complacent when it comes to tackling systemic institutional racism. There is still so much more that we have to do as a nation towards achieving the ambition of an antiracist Wales by 2030, as set out by the Welsh Government in 2022. BAMEed Wales will continue to promote antiracist policies and practices in educational settings through our work. It is everyone’s responsibility to make Wales an anti-racist nation and we hope to see more and more stakeholders in the education sector join us in our mission.

Our network will continue to be a safe space for teachers and educators from Global Majority backgrounds who experience racism, Islamophobia, and any other challenges and barriers in their career.

Additionally, our members may seek support from the following resources:

Wales Hate Support Centre:

Website: https://reporthate.victimsupport.org.uk/

Telephone number: 0300 30 31 982

Islamophobia Response Unit:

Website: https://www.theiru.org.uk/report-islamophobia/

Email: info@theiru.org.uk

Telephone number: 020 3904 6555

BAMEed Network UK have also curated resources that can be accessed here:

https://www.bameednetwork.com/racism-in-society-resources-for-schools/