This week marks three months since the tragic week of riots in the UK, sparked by the horrific murders of three young girls in Southport. As a father of two, it was impossible not to think about the safety of my own children. The thought of something so tragic happening to them, combined with the reality that such tragedy could happen to anyone’s children, is chilling. 

We should have all been thinking about them. Our focus should have been on supporting and grieving with the families and community shaken by such dreadful loss. But as we all witnessed, their murders were overshadowed by the anger and destruction of the far-right riots that ensued. The speed with which that tragedy was hijacked to incite hatred was appalling. The sight of rioters setting fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham was particularly gut-wrenching. 

As the riots spread, I grew increasingly concerned about the safety of my family, my friends and colleagues at Mission 44. As a Black man, proud to be British, it was difficult to reconcile this image of Britain with the pride I had felt seeing the diversity of the English men’s football team at the Euros, or Team GB’s diversity at the Olympics just a few weeks previously. These athletes, from all backgrounds, are symbols of what modern Britain can be – united in diversity, strong together. To see that spirit of unity violently undermined in the streets was painful.

Race equity requires addressing both hate and social injustice

As a former teacher, seeing young people among those involved was particularly disheartening. The convictions and trials that have followed reveal that many of the young rioters didn’t take part out of any deep convictions or hatred. More often it was simply the allure of belonging to something, feeling seen, or frankly wanting to lash out. As with the adult rioters, too many were also caught up in social media-fueled misinformation and a sense of disconnect, exacerbated by economic and social hardship. Sadly, it’s no surprise that these events spread most in communities already facing challenges of poverty, high unemployment, and lack of investment. 

If we are to move forward, we must be clear and steadfast in standing up to racism and islamophobia in all its forms. But it’s also not enough to simply label everyone who participated in these riots as racists and walk away. When people are left behind, when they feel unseen and unheard, resentment and fear can take hold. These injustices must never be used to excuse violent actions, but they remind us of the real work needed to heal and rebuild.

I am, and always will be, a firm believer in the benefits of diversity – it strengthens the UK in countless ways. Research consistently shows that diverse teams are more innovative and effective. Culturally diverse communities can foster resilience and shared understanding. But Jon Yates’ concept of “People Like Me” syndrome reminds us why diversity alone is not enough. It is all too easy for people to stay within their comfort zones, gravitating toward those who look, sound, or think like themselves. That’s why we must actively prioritise inclusion – creating spaces where people from all ethnic backgrounds can come together, learn from each other, and build connections that promote community cohesion. Real change will come when we actively foster unity and understanding, not just tolerance.

Statements of solidarity are not enough 

Just as we saw in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death in the U.S, when discussions about race equity surged globally, we cannot let the momentum for change fade into empty words. I found myself in 2020 on too many panels, asked to share my views, but without a sense that anything meaningful would change. For many organisations, making statements or symbolic gestures, like black squares on Instagram, became a quick response. However, too often, those gestures have since been left unaccompanied by real action. Real change requires commitment, investment, and follow-through, not just during times of heightened awareness but in sustained, everyday efforts.

Those of us who believe in racial tolerance and equality can’t afford to only show up when tensions erupt. As a proud north Londoner, the anti-racist protest in Walthamstow was powerful, a reminder of the unity we can achieve in the face of hatred. But I couldn’t help still feeling dissatisfied. Do we all retreat, self-congratulatory that we’ve made our voices heard, with nothing more to come? What happens tomorrow? What happens the next day? 

None of this is to say that statements of solidarity aren’t important. They are. People joining together to declare with one voice that bigotry won’t be tolerated is essential. There’s real power in that. It’s just that those statements alone are clearly not enough; and I worry that too often, we can fall into the trap of thinking they are. True progress requires ongoing action, not only in times of crisis but in every facet of our lives, as we push for equality in workplaces, schools, and communities. It’s why at Mission 44, we chose to be quieter. To listen. To reflect. And to ensure that after the intensity had dropped, heat had cooled and media attention had moved on, we could be confident that our attention and focus on the underlying issues was sustained. That we’re doing the work. 

Doing the work at Mission 44

Since Mission 44’s launch three years ago, we have fought for race equity in who we are and what we focus on. I’m proud that 83% of our board of trustees and 68% of our team are from ethnic minority backgrounds. We’re now committed to building a working culture that supports everyone in this diverse team to feel truly included and empowered. I’m proud that 50% of our grantees are led by people of colour. These organisations have historically suffered from underinvestment despite having leaders with lived experience, well equipped to drive long-lasting change. And I’m proud that we’re investing in initiatives that empower young people of colour to succeed, whether it’s through increasing the ethnic diversity of teachers, our motorsport scholarship with the Royal Academy of Engineering, our efforts to prevent school exclusions, particularly for Black Caribbean and Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller students, pushing for greater diversity in the curriculum or enhancing the cultural competency of teachers with Power the Fight and Class 13. 

I’m very much of the belief that investing in race equity benefits society as a whole. For example, a more diverse teaching workforce not only provides students of colour positive role models in the classroom, but also enriches the learning experience of all students, fostering greater cultural awareness and empathy.  

Is there more that we can and should be doing? Absolutely. We’ve established a DEIB working group internally that is leading the way in shaping and pushing forward our ambitions. We’re at the start of a long journey and we’re learning as we go, so watch this space. We’ll continue to hold ourselves accountable, internally and externally, all in pursuit of building a fairer, more inclusive future for young people in the UK and around the world. 

Jason Arthur,

CEO, Mission 44