A blog exploring why celebrating Black History Month is crucial to Impetus’ mission - and how three strands of Impetus’ race equity work aim to tackle racism at the systemic, sector, and organisational level - so more young people from ethnic minority and disadvantaged backgrounds can thrive in school, work and life.

Why is Black History Month important for Impetus?

Black History Month is about celebrating the impact and contributions made by the Black community around the world. It’s about recognising their history, culture and achievements. In recognising the Black community’s struggles and successes, we can challenge the prejudices we still see today and educate ourselves and those around us.

Impetus was founded on a belief in social equity – that all young people should have the same chance to succeed, whatever their background. You cannot believe in social equity without believing in race equity.

Our race equity work has three pillars: we produce quality research that aids understanding of the drivers of racial inequality and shapes policy; we back organisations which have diversity at their foundation; and we support leaders from ethnic minority backgrounds to progress in their careers in the UK youth sector.

1. Producing research to better understand the drivers of racial inequality

Our latest Youth Jobs Gap research highlights the effects of multiple layers of disadvantage on young people’s likelihood of learning or earning. This includes where young people live, whether they have special educational needs, and their ethnic background.

We found that while there are differences within broad ethnic groups, some ethnic groups are much more likely to be NEET than others:

Young people from Black Caribbean and from Mixed White and Black Caribbean backgrounds have a higher likelihood of being NEET than those from other ethnic groups, even when they do not face disadvantage.

Our research also highlights that the barriers preventing young people from entering the labour market are deeply interconnected, in particular the intersectionality of race and socio-economic disadvantage. But for certain groups, racial discrimination by itself is a barrier to entering the labour market. One-size-fits-all solutions are therefore not enough. Tailored, wraparound support addressing specific challenges – including systemic, racial discrimination – is needed. Impetus works with organisations that provide holistic, wraparound support for young people facing barriers to work. Working closely with our portfolio partners means we have insights into what policy changes will have a meaningful impact on the causes and effects of persistent disadvantage, including racial discrimination.

2. Backing diverse organisations

Our Connect Fund was created to close the employment gap faced by young people from ethnic minority backgrounds, particularly those groups that face the most significant barriers to employment.

Through this fund, we aim to promote systemic change towards a more racially equitable society by:

• Building and scaling effective, impact-led programmes

• Delivering a leadership academy that helps develop future leaders from ethnic minority backgrounds working within youth organisations

• Convening key stakeholders across Government, employers and donors so we can collectively make a greater impact on the problem

One organisation in our Connect Fund is Sister System, who harness lived experience to help young women from ethnic minority backgrounds to build and sustain healthy relationships. Throughout our partnership, we have supported Sister System to re-launch a streamlined, sequenced programme, triple their income by building diverse partnerships, and strengthen their brand. As a result, they have been able to better measure their young people’s outcomes around progression into education, employment or training (EET).

Investing in organisations that support young people from ethnic minority backgrounds into employment for a fulfilling life is at the heart of our work. But we also know that leaders from ethnic minority backgrounds are less likely to receive funding for their organisations and are also working with young people facing the greatest barriers to success. Impetus works to close this leadership gap too.

3. Supporting leaders from ethnic minority backgrounds

The proportion of CEOs from ethnic minority backgrounds in the charity sector has remained static for four years at 7%, as of November 2024.

The Impetus Leadership Academy (ILA) is a leadership development programme that we set up to help talent from ethnic minority backgrounds to progress into senior leadership roles in organisations in the youth sector. The programme is designed and delivered by people from ethnic minority backgrounds for people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

The ILA offers masterclasses to deepen technical knowledge, coaching to solve challenges, and mentoring and networking through bespoke events. It supports participants to explore and develop their personal leadership styles, increase their knowledge in key management topics, and access networks that can unlock senior leadership roles. One leader described the ILA as a space that helped them feel like they have value to bring:

[In the charity sector] all of the senior leaders in the organisations that I’ve worked for haven’t been from a similar background [to me] and I felt, ‘for me, what does leadership look like and what could it look like?’ So that was an important aspect of why I wanted to join the programme.

Joe Hensey, Participant in ILA Cohort Four

And these leaders go on to create further positive change in their workplaces. Four years since its launch, 22 of 36 ILA participants have secured new and more senior roles during the programme and they’ve reported more than a 20% increase in key competencies required for leadership in the youth sector.

We’re seeing people take up positions that they may not have taken up otherwise… So I think over time there should be impact because [the sector is] seeing progressively and increasingly more diversity of thought and experience.

Aron Rouse, Participant in ILA Cohort Four

Celebrating the achievements and contributions of the Black community shouldn't be limited to one month but Black History Month is a special time to recognise and honour them. It's an opportunity to look ahead to a future of unity and growth. The Black community continues to inspire positive change across the youth and charity sector.