Anti Racist Cumbria
Anti Racist Cumbria (ARC) aims to make Cumbria the UK’s first anti-racist county. The charity goes beyond just campaigning for change and works countywide with public and private sector organisations, schools and communities to support them to become anti-racist.
Cumbria is England’s third largest county with a predominantly white and ageing population, but every district is growing more diverse at a faster rate than the rest of the nation, with increasing numbers of Black and Brown people moving to the area, and some hotels in these locations housing people who are seeking asylum. These factors highlight challenges for the county, with certain communities becoming increasingly suspicious of immigration and divisive narratives taking hold.
These challenges do not deter Anti Racist Cumbria and the charity has already made a huge impact in a short space of time — sell-out events, social campaigns reaching more than 1 million, an award-winning youth-led animated film released, more than 30 schools engaged with anti-racism work, local authorities and even Cumbria Constabulary working with the charity.
ARC’s approach seeks to affect change from within communities rather than force change upon them. Anti Racist Cumbria’s grassroots work focuses on young people – and aims to create a visible and proud Black, Brown and minoritised Cumbrian community who support each other and have a say in the decisions that affect their lives. The animated short film The Fell We Climb is just one of the projects developed by young local people working with ARC. Anti Racist Cumbria projects support Black, Brown and minoritised Cumbrian communities to shine and share their talents, truths and experiences; forge narratives that unpick mistruths and stereotypes and create anti-racist community ambassadors.
Through support from Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s Youth Fund, Anti Racist Cumbria has employed a fourth full-time staff member, a Grassroots Development Worker. Since starting in December 2022 they’ve worked with young people to create a Youth Advisory Board to support young Cumbrians to have a say in how the charity is shaped. They’ve also set up a monthly youth group specifically for young people who are Living Whilst Black*, and supported young Black people to create their own youth-led TikTok account. Already these projects are making a difference — uplifting voices, building anti-racism into the fabric of their lives and crucially, centring the young people’s experiences and aims.
“It’s the first time I’ve spent time with people who look like me, it has helped me to talk about our experiences which are the same.”
Young Black person engaged on Living Whilst Black Youth project
*Black here is used in its political term and is used for any young person who does not identify as white
