Diversity In Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

Here is a letter from the Chief Executive of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Ian Reid to the Secretary of the West Midlands Regional Council – Jamaican Diaspora UK , Mr Tony Kelly on significant changes to the racial profile of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games planning committee.

Letter subject title: Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games – Equality, diversity, equity and inclusion

Dear Tony 

I thought it would be useful to provide a quick update on Birmingham 2022 ED&I issues for you to cascade to the JDUK group: 

• Firstly, we’re really pleased to say that we have now recruited our new Head of Inclusion and Engagement. Donna Fraser, who has over 20 years’ experience as international athlete, and has become a leader in equality, diversity and inclusion. She has over 10 years of corporate experience within business, sport, leadership and well-being for both start-ups and established companies and was recently awarded an OBE for services to equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. She has served as a Trustee, advisor and Board member for multiple organisations such as the London Marathon Charitable Trust, Women’s Sports Trust, British Athletes Commission, International Women’s Group and Her Spirit. She is due to start on May 24th and we will make sure you and other interested groups have an opportunity to meet her as soon after that as possible. We’re confident she will challenge us and help us build on the foundations we have already set in place and I’m sure she will be keen to hear more from you.
• We’re working on sharing our workforce data, and the actions associated with any identified under-representation, via the website. As soon as this is live, we will share the link with you and would welcome any comments around what else we can be doing to progress equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Our volunteering programme will be going live in June. Our key focus is on local and representative volunteer recruitment, so any support you can provide amongst your networks on widening messaging for volunteering opportunities would be fantastic. More information will be here soon https://www.birmingham2022.com/get-involved/volunteering/
• Our programme of community engagement sessions started last week with bi-weekly surgeries and themed forums, presenting up and coming opportunities from across the OC and our delivery partners on how local communities can become involved with the games. The next forum is scheduled on 5th May 1:30-3:00 and will focus on our Volunteering programme. Community engagement roadshows will commence in June, bringing a piece of the games activities directly to local communities. Please contact Abigail Shervington to find out more, or if you wish to attend – Abigail.Shervington@birmingham2022.com Lead Community Engagement Manager.
• As agreed, we have arranged for a regular advert to go out in the Voice and the Phoenix from this month, for the next 6 months. Thanks again for this suggestion and we hope it will build our exposure with the Jamaican diaspora and Black communities in the West Midlands and across the UK. 

I hope you are all well. 

Kind Regards 

Ian Reid