Lord Simon Woolley Statement.

This report lands at a critical juncture as the nation seeks to redefine itself in a post-Brexit world. For some this could be an exciting endeavour. For others however, there is much anxiety with the spectre of rising xenophobia and racism that has reached levels we have not seen for many decades.

In spite of all this, we must not lose sight of how our big cities, in particularly London, are seen and admired for being multicultural, cosmopolitan and international cities. One area in London perhaps above all, lays claim to a special part of this historical narrative: North Kensington. One can view a rich vein of our shared history through the prism of its civil rights and anti-racist activism, which helps in many ways contextualise this ground-breaking report.

In particular, and most relevant today for those being denied British Citizenship, it was the result of the Windrush generation from the Caribbean after the Second World War, which went on to make one of the most important contributions in the UK. Through hard work this generation helped in rebuilding the UK and transforming its cultural vibrancy in so many ways. All of this was achieved with the backdrop of everyday racism and resistance which gave us many things, not least the second biggest Carnival in the world: Notting Hill Carnival.

Westway

With the benefit of the seminal Stephen Lawrence Inquiry and its definition of institutional racism, this review set itself, a simple task; to establish whether institutional racism has existed (exists) within the Westway Trust and, if so, how it has manifested and its impact on the communities served by the Trust. To answer this question, this robust and ground-breaking review has ventured wide and deep in search of the facts. There is little doubt that over a sustained period of time, and more worryingly systemic within the organisation, racial inequality has blighted the Trust. All of this has been evidenced with clear examples of racism in its direct, indirect and overt forms. This report will therefore, undoubtedly be uncomfortable reading for some, for a variety of reasons, however, as eluded by the author, it also presents a fantastic window of opportunity.

It is somewhat ironic that the chapters of this report and its supporting Annexes lay bare the nature of institutional racism within an organisation whose very starting point was to be a counterweight for structural inequality and a beacon of hope for many. I do hope therefore, that this report is seen as a start of a new beginning for the Trust to commence a transformation process that was evoked from its starting premise so many years ago.

If anything is to be learned from the bitter experiences of minority populations in the United Kingdom, and more specifically in the aftermath of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, it is that there are inevitable backlashes against reports, which present uncomfortable truths about racism. The challenge, is, how do all the diverse stakeholders who are affected by this report come together to work towards implementing its recommendations? The answer can only be derived from collective leadership with all stakeholders.

In reading this report, and in particularly thanking the Community Advisory Group for their input and support, it is clear that this review is a watershed moment for the Westway Trust and for the community of North Kensington. Both sides must urgently come together in the spirit of reconciliation and trust, with a clear desire to implement and embed the reparatory justice model, outlined within the recommendations.

I’m convinced that much of Black Britain today will look at this report and the actions taken or not taken by the powers that be, to see how our society can respond to the challenge that has the potential to be so transformative.

For the diverse communities of North Kensington and beyond, I deeply hope we take up the challenge.

-Lord Simon Woolley CBE