VALE of Glamorgan Council has been awarded with the Silver Trailblazer Status in recognition of its work to address racial inequality.

Silver is the second stage in the Trailblazer series spotlighting organisations that are implementing impactful solutions to drive race equality. After successfully achieving REM Trailblazer Bronze Status in August 2022, the Council has continued to act on race inequality by:

• Championing its Diverse Staff Network established for racial equality
• Giving diverse members of staff a voice to share their stories through a series of internal profile pieces
• Working with and supporting Vale schools to become actively anti-racist
• Taking significant strides in recruiting and retaining members of staff from the global majority
• Celebrating members of the community from the Global Majority and their contribution to local and national history
• Facilitate Safe Space meetings between members of the Diverse Staff Network and senior leaders

Designed to recognise organisations driving meaningful change in the race equality sphere, REM Trailblazer status has been determined by an independent panel of experts. All with lived experience of race inequality in the workplace.

 Becoming a Trailblazer means the work the Council has done has resulted in change and made an impact across the breadth of the entire organisation. A step that aims to successfully address racial inequality and become a more diverse, inclusive, and equal organisation.

Vale schools taking part in Anti-Racist Action Research earlier this year.

Cllr Ruba Sivagnanam, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, Equalities, and Regulatory Services, said: "We are proud to share that we have been awarded Silver Trailblazer Status from Race Equality Matters, as a result of the progress we are making both internally, and with the wider community in the Vale.

"It is so important that we earn the trust and confidence of the diverse communities we represent and are driving towards becoming a Council which is anti-racist.

"Jumping from Bronze to Silver Trailblazer status over the last two years is such an incredible achievement, and we will continue our work towards race equality, listen and learn from our local communities, and ensure colleagues from the Global Majority are supported in the workplace.

"We still have a long way to go, but we are committed to proactively challenging behaviours and facilitating the conversation around race equality in our workplace to ensure we transform our organisation for the better."