City mayor launches new initiative to tackle racism across region

CARDIFF Lord Mayor Daniel De’Ath has launched a new initiative to tackle racism in South Wales.

“It’s Mandatory” is a new antiracism community-led company that hopes to provide support and positive role models for ethnic minority schoolchildren across the region.

It was launched on Monday at Mount Stuart Primary School in Butetown.

The parent company to organisations such as The Campbell Network, the initiative was formally launched during Black History Month at the school where Wales’ first black headteacher, the late Betty Campbell, worked.

The initiative hopes to train black and other ethnic minorities with skills to achieve more senior roles in education and other business sectors.

Daniel De’Ath, Cardiff’s first black mayor, said he was “honoured” to be at the event.

“The Campbell Network hopes to increase representation of more inspiring black teachers across South Wales.

“If Betty Campbell was with us today, I’m sure she’d be honoured to know that her career has inspired this initiative”, he said.

“It’s Mandatory believe in equality for all, particularly in education.”

Originally from Warwickshire, the lord mayor spoke openly about his experience growing up black in the West Midlands and admitted there was a “tiny” amount of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) teachers in South Wales.

“I had a tough old time,” he said. “Sadly still, racism is still prevalent in virtually all schools. I’m really pleased these guys have put together this initiative that will hopefully improve the educational experience of black and people of colour.

“If you look at schools in Butetown and Grangetown, they have such a large amount of BAME kids and such a tiny amount of BAME teachers and that’s why we need that change.”