EDIE & Anti-Racism

At Foundations, we are committed to ensuring that everything we do actively promotes equality, diversity, inclusion and equity (EDIE). Our strategy (published in 2023) identifies clear racial disparities in early intervention and children’s social care that cannot be explained by deprivation alone. Racially and ethnically minoritised children and families experience unequal access to support and, in some cases, higher levels of intervention – patterns that demand meaningful action.

While our work spans all areas of EDIE, the strength of evidence showing racial inequalities in children’s services means that anti-racism will be a priority for the next three years. Our approach is intersectional, recognising that race often interacts with other factors that shape children’s and families’ experiences.

Knowing about these disparities is not enough. We believe we have a responsibility to lead change, and that requires us to be actively anti-racist in both our internal culture and external work.

That’s why Foundations has made an anti-racism pledge that sets out the actions we will take to guide this commitment.

OUR PLEDGE

If we want to change children’s experiences of racial inequality, we must also address inequality within our own organisation. We want Foundations to be a place where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Our anti-racism journey therefore starts internally – and we are committed to doing this openly, with care, and with a focus on continuous improvement.

We are confident that becoming an anti-racist organisation will benefit all minoritised groups by creating a more inclusive culture and equipping us to have honest, difficult conversations. This is a long-term journey, one we may never fully complete, but we are committed to authentic, collaborative transformation for our people and for the children and families we serve.

BACKGROUND TO OUR JOURNEY

Our anti-racism work builds on the legacy organisations that formed Foundations, whose work highlighted the racially minoritised families’ challenging experiences of accessing early intervention services and social workers’ experiences of racism in their profession.

Since then, we have strengthened our own understanding and capacity through staff learning and development and support from two Senior Fellows for Race Equity. We have established a staff-led Race Equity Group, created a feedback loop with our leadership team, and introduced reverse mentoring for senior leaders.

We will continue to combine internal expertise with external partnerships to deepen our understanding – both as an employer and as an organisation committed to improving outcomes for children experiencing vulnerabilities.

Our commitment to anti-racism will be delivered through a 3–5 year Anti-Racism Transformation Plan, setting out ambitious goals for both our internal culture and our wider programme of work. These goals are vital to achieving our vision that all children have the foundational relationships they need to thrive.

Across five transformation pillars, we will work to strengthen our organisation and ensure our work meaningfully addresses racial inequality.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR WORK

As part of our transformation plan, we are launching a programme focused on understanding what works for racially minoritised children experiencing vulnerabilities. Across each of our priority areas, we are committed to generating evidence, influencing policy and supporting practice in ways that reduce racial disparities.

Our objectives are to:

• generate actionable evidence for racially minoritised children and families
• use our funding as leverage to support more and better evidence on racial inequalities
• ensure that all our work reflects and analyses racial disparities
• strengthen our Toolkit to highlight approaches that address inequalities and support fairer decision-making.

Through this work, we aim to contribute to a system where evidence is used to challenge inequity and improve outcomes for all children.

STAYING ACCOUNTABLE

We will report annually on our progress, including a dedicated section on anti-racism in our Impact Report. We will also share relevant updates, reports and resources linked to our anti-racism work on this page, alongside regular updates on our social channels.

We begin this journey knowing we will not always get it right. But through transparency, learning and authentic conversations – internally and externally – we are committed to delivering on our mission and improving outcomes for racially minoritised children and families.

This is just the beginning. We are dedicated to creating lasting change within Foundations and across the communities we serve. Together, we will continue to learn, grow and hold ourselves accountable on the journey toward becoming an anti-racist organisation.

Foundations’ Senior Fellows for Race Equity play a crucial role in guiding our EDIE ambitions. They bring deep expertise that informs our organisational development and strengthens how we address inequalities across children’s services.

At Foundations, our commitment to EDIE is strengthened by the leadership and lived experience of our people. Our staff-led groups create supportive spaces, shape our culture, and help ensure that everyone feels represented and heard. These groups play an active role in building belonging, raising awareness, and influencing how we work – both with each other and with the children and families we serve.

RACE EQUITY GROUP (REG)

The Race Equity Group focuses on advancing race equality within Foundations. It provides space for staff to discuss issues related to race, share experiences, and highlight barriers that need attention. The group works with the leadership team to identify areas for improvement, inform policies and practices, and help ensure our organisation reflects the needs and perspectives of racially minoritised colleagues and communities.

NEURODIVERSITY EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUP (NERG)

The NERG is a peer-led space for neurodivergent colleagues and allies to share experiences, promote understanding, and shape an inclusive workplace that works for all thinking styles. The group shares tools and resources to support neurodivergent colleagues, as well as guidance for teams and managers on how to work effectively and inclusively with neurodivergent staff, helping to build best practice across the organisation.

MENOPAUSE SUPPORTERS SPACE

Open to anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of menopause and perimenopause. This group offers a supportive environment for sharing experiences, accessing guidance, and signposting to helpful resources.

PARENTS GROUP

A space for parents across Foundations to connect, share experiences, and support one another in balancing work and family life.

GROUP FOR THOSE CARING FOR DISABLED CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS

A supportive, understanding space for colleagues who care for disabled family members. The group offers connection, shared learning and a place to be heard while navigating the responsibilities of caring.