Catholic education leaders in the Archdiocese of Southwark have established a forum to help develop practical solutions for racial justice in the classroom.
Attendees at the inaugural Black and Ethnic Minority (BEM) Leaders Group, held in Orpington, south east London, spoke of their experiences within education institutions and of a collective desire for systemic change.
The 11 February event was co-organised by Susan Elderfield, Education Service Adviser for Chaplaincy and Staff Formation, and chaired by Canon Victor Darlington, Episcopal Vicar for Education and Chair of the Commission for Promoting Racial and Cultural Inclusion.
Canon Victor said: "The February gathering of our BEM Leaders Group was a truly inspiring moment for our diocese. It reaffirmed the depth of wisdom, resilience, and leadership that exists within our Black and Ethnic Minority communities.
“I was deeply encouraged by the honesty of our conversations and the shared commitment to shaping a more just, inclusive, and hope‑filled approach to Catholic leadership in our schools. This is not simply a meeting; it is a movement — one that continues to strengthen our shared mission and enrich the life of our Archdiocese."
Guest speaker Alicia Douglas, Head of Apprenticeships at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, also told of her own career path and facilitated further discussion for the group.
After the success of the group’s first meeting, more are being arranged to take place in future. The following is feedback provided by some of those who attended:
‘Our time together was truly awesome — to have Black leaders together, with special thanks to Susan for shaping the event...the importance of coming together, recognising our collective presence and what we bring to the table was a mark in history of long awaiting.’
‘It was encouraging to hear the ideas shared around the table, and has made me think about what we can do to bring about even more positive changes within our schools as I know there is already much to celebrate. It was a great opportunity to network and know that there is so much experience and knowledge across the Diocese. I feel so blessed to be part of something so special!’
Find out more about Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Southwark
