Bath & North East Somerset Racial Equality Council is the lead agency promoting racial equality, and racial harmony, working towards the elimination of racial discrimination and developing the Black and Minority Ethnic sectors through a range of culturally sensitive services.
Mission Statement
To work towards the elimination of racial discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity, and good working relations, between persons from diverse communities.
A Brief History
The Racial Equality Council's predecessor body Bath Council for Community Relations (BCCR) was established in 1978 as a voluntary organisation which originated from an action group and was maintained by committed volunteers until the office was established in 1988. In 1989 an Action Research Worker was appointed who produced a report/study of the Black/Asian Communities in Bath. In 1990 BCCR became Bath Racial Equality Council when it adopted the national Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) Model Constitution.
The CRE agreed in 1992, after extensive lobbying, to fund a Director's post and the outgoing Director was appointed in February 1993. The REC has current funding for three full-time officer posts, a Director (funded by the CRE), a Community Development Officer (funded by B&NES Council), and a full-time Sports Equality & Diversity Officer (funded by Active Communities Development Fund). The REC also has one full-time Senior Administrator and one part-time Administrator who are responsible for supporting the work of the REC. The REC moved to its present office accommodation in the Centre of Bath in the summer of 2001. Unfortunately the current REC Office is not fully accessible for people with physical disabilities, as there is no wheelchair access to the basement offices.
Bath & NES REC's work is reflected in its Annual Reports and the enclosed leaflets. Over the last few years the REC and its workload has grown; in 1995 the REC extended its area of benefit to cover the whole of the Bath and North East Somerset area. In 1997 the REC changed its name to become Bath and North East Somerset Racial Equality Council, and in 2001 it became a Company Limited by Guarantee.
