Contact Theatre partners with SALC to deliver antiracism training
08 Dec 2023
SALC colleagues are pioneering the roll-out of antiracism training, delivered in partnership with Contact Theatre. It complements our ongoing activity and commitment to diversifying our staff profile, our student profile and our curriculum.
The University’s Race Equality Charter Silver Award commend our honest, transparent commentary on what we have done and what we need to do. One proposal was to actively address systemic racism and to engage colleagues with training sessions on racism.
SALC colleagues are pioneering the roll-out of antiracism training, delivered in partnership with Contact Theatre. It complements our ongoing activity and commitment to diversifying our staff profile, our student profile and our curriculum.
The first round of training for SALC took place in early November, and below two participants share their thoughts on the experience.
Dr Sheena Kalayil, SALC Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, said:
“I didn’t know what to expect, and I was apprehensive about how much of my own lived experience I would feel obliged to share. In the end, I felt no obligation; I shared when I wanted to. I listened to other stories, and some were from outside the sphere of teaching and learning. I didn’t come away knowing all the answers, but I came away thinking about different questions from those I usually grapple with.”
Dr Darren Waldron, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, said:
“I expected the training to focus on anti-racism and allyship in the work environment, but it was more general, which I appreciated. I also anticipated that it would be less relaxed and open than it was. I felt we were effectively prompted to question our assumptions and I found the group discussions about different scenarios, and the observations of everyone present, very useful.”
Contact Theatre will deliver the next round of training in March 2024. The next round will be open to colleagues from EACW and Drama. There will be a few spaces reserved for any colleagues who wish to join outside or ahead of the departmental cycle.