A new generation of black role models

Date article online: 05/12/2007

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has announced a national role modelling programme aimed at boosting the number of positive black role models for our young black men to aspire to.

The programme is one part of a package of measures aimed at countering a culture of low aspirations and low attainment amongst some black boys and young black men. The actions are in response to the independent REACH report published in August that highlighted the barriers that are preventing some black boys from fulfilling their full potential. The group said that if more black boys and men overcame these barriers, it could benefit the economy by £24billion over the next 50 years.

The independent group – drawn from a range of disciplines working with young black men - made clear that too often the only images of successful black men were those of rap artists - who can glamorise crime, guns and gangs - or sportsmen. black boys and young black men needed a greater diversity of images and portrayals, showing that black men can be, and are, successful in a wide range of fields.

Hazel Blears said: "Young black men want and need to see role models from everyday life who have been successful in business, in retail, as doctors and accountants - and to be reassured that these paths are open to them too.

"It is these men who will provide the most powerful antidote to a culture of low aspiration that is seeing too many of our young black men fail. We have listened to the black community and the recommendations of the REACH report, and we are determined to do everything we can in helping to turn things around. There will always be the rap stars and the bling, but I think you can cut through it.

"Black pupils made the biggest improvement in this year’s GCSE results and the attainment gap is closing. We must continue to boost the attainment of our young black men if we are going to see improvements in other areas too. A concerted focus on what is happening for black pupils both in schools and outside is a vital part of getting this right. "

The package of measures outlined by Government today consists of: The creation of the first ever Black Boys’ National Role Model programme. An independent panel comprising fashion designer and businessman Ozwald Boateng, entrepreneur Tim Campbell, founder and Director of Operation Black Vote Simon Woolley and Metropolitan Police Superintendent Leroy Logan plus four young black men, will spend the coming months identifying and recruiting twenty national black role models who will work to help raise aspirations of black boys.

Once recruited the twenty national role models will tour the country speaking to black communities. This might include schools, youth clubs and young offender institutes. They will also use other mechanisms such as podcasts and webchats to reach a wider audience and boost the visibility of positive images of black male achievement and the journey to success.

A renewed focus in education to better engage black parents. Schools have to be the starting point for any changes in attainment and aspiration. The current pilots of home school partnership arrangements being run across the country will ensure an explicit focus on supporting the interaction of black families with schools and their child’s education. The learning from these partnerships will be used to help inform all involved on how to continue to build better links with black parents.

A focus on Race Equality in Schools. Ofsted has reviewed, revised and published new guidance for inspectors which will strengthen the way that it reports on race equality issues including drawing attention to good practice and highlighting inequalities.

It will also continue to develop its inspection methodology and practice and will:

• Consult with stakeholders including the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the REACH Taskforce. 
• Keep the quality of its reporting under review through its quality assurance processes.
• Regularly sample reports to check on how well and consistently race equality issues are reported, and make improvements where needed. 
• Ensure that there are formal mechanisms in place to measure and monitor progress against the specific actions in its Race Equality Action Plan.

Establishing a Ministerial Board to oversee all efforts in raising the aspirations of black boys.  Hazel Blears will chair a Ministerial Board that will bring together minsters from across government in order to focus attention on this vital issue. This board will include Ministers from the relevant departments necessary to drive the response to the recommendations forward and will include representatives from the Departments for Children, Families and Schools; Innovation amp; Skills; Cabinet Office/Office of the Third Sector and the Home Office. This board will also be joined by Joel Edwards from the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Greater involvement from the third sector. The REACH report recommended action on the part of the voluntary and community sector who are working to support black boys and young black men. These are often the organisations working most closely with young black men at risk of dropping out, but are sometimes small and spread thinly. The report suggested that they should group together to form consortia so that they could share their expertise and resources, and forge links with local schools and other service providers.

To help these consortia along the way, the Government will ensure that a share of the recently announced £6 million three year Strategic Partner programme run by the Communities and Local Government Department will focus on race equality and within that the recommendations of the REACH panel. The Government is also encouraging black-led organisations and/or organisations working with black boys, to engage in the current discussion on improving the engagement of the third sector with local partnerships.

Hazel Blears said: "There are many examples up and down the country of successful black men - businessmen, politicians, lawyers and doctors - and we need to make sure that it is their stories that young black men are hearing and that it is those people in whose footsteps they are aspiring to follow

"The programme I am announcing today will deliver our young black men with a new generation of real life examples of what they could achieve. In addition, the package of measures in Education will help to remove barriers and pave the way to success. It is of both social and an economic importance that we improve the life chances and raise the aspirations of our young black men and boys , as it stands too many black boys are not realising their true potential.

"The Government is taking a strong lead on this issue but as the REACH report itself pointed out, change will only happen if we pull together in a co-ordinated effort  - Government, local organisations, schools, families and black boys and young men themselves all have a part to play and will benefit from its success. Today is the start of that process."