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Press release

The Black and Minority Ethnic and Women’s Support Coaching and Mentoring Network

In May 2019, the School of Global Studies ran an inaugural training session for 18 members of staff over three days. This training develops a tranche of coaches and mentors familiarised with the historical and ongoing institutional systems of oppression and prejudice built into the very fabric of Higher Education. These include racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, classism as well as prejudices over physical and/or mental health. The aims of the training are to create a network of coaches and mentors who are sensitised to the needs of staff in Higher Education experiencing structural and environmental stresses (including for e.g. over issues of race, gender, sexuality, health and ethnicity). We are here to provide an independent support network for staff that are particularly vulnerable to prejudicial micro-aggressions in the day-to-day work and wider social environment. It is premised on the idea of building and sustaining a culture of support, development and research success for BAME staff, women, and any other colleagues facing oppressive and exclusionary cultures of academic life. 

We would like to extend an open call to staff wishing to self-refer to the network. Following receipt of self-referrals, it is envisioned that mentees and mentors will set up an initial meeting, thereafter we can offer 3-6 sessions focussed on specific issues. The role of the network is not to provide counselling, legal support, or policy advice. Rather, it is oriented to enabling staff dealing with these issues to have a space to discuss, and to find ways to overcome professional concerns arising from institutional stresses and structural obstacles. 

The network has been set up independently of Human Resources. It is initiated and maintained by those already actively engaged in anti-racism, the gender equality gap, the attainment gap for BAME students, calls for decolonising the curriculum and pedagogy, and supporting staff and junior career staff and students with issues of race, prejudice, or cultures of negation, violence, and exclusion as experienced in HE. If you are interested in becoming a BAME Coach / Mentor or receiving support, please email: d.p.tolia-kelly@sussesx.ac.uk  

Our referral documents are available here