Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Staff Group
The BME Staff Group was set up in 2003 as part of Cambridge City Council's Race Equality Scheme. Facilitating and supporting this group provides a way of involving our Black and Minority Ethnic staff in decisions affecting them, and informs the council's progress on tackling racism, disadvantage and discrimination.
The staff group meets regularly, and is run for and by Black and Minority ethnic staff with its own Steering Group. Meetings are generally held in a room at Parkside Pools so that members of staff from all sites are able to meet together centrally. The group looks at internal and external issues, and provides a safe and confidential space to hold discussions and offer support. Membership of the group is currently about 50% of BME staff working for the Council.
What the group is about
- To support Black and Minority Ethnic Staff
- To tackle issues of racism and race equality
- To celebrate minority identities and cultures
- Everything in the meeting is confidential, and everyone attends as equals
Who comes along
All Cambridge City Council Black and Minority Ethnic staff are welcome. Staff from all departments and sections of the Council are part of the BME Staff Group. Attendance is classed as work time (you need your line manager's agreement).
Who's eligible
Membership of the group follows the 2001 Census ethnicity categories of Mixed/Other Mixed:
- White - Black African
- White - Black Caribbean
- White - Asian
- Asian/Asian British - Indian
- Asian/Asian British - Pakistani
- Asian/Asian British - Bangladeshi
- Asian/Asian British - Other Asian
- Black/Black British - Black African
- Black/Black British - Black Caribbean
- Chinese
- Other Ethnic Group
When and where do we meet
All take place at Parkside Pools Multi-Purpose Room (1st floor) 1.30-3.30pm. Informal buffet lunch followed by the meeting.
Racial harassment services in Cambridge
Racial harassment may be verbal abuse, written threats, damage to property, physical abuse, racist graffiti.
Cambridge Police - Open Out Scheme
01223 823285
Cambridge City Council's Racial Harassment Service
(24 hour emergency numbers)
07973 883261
CRISP (Cambridge Racial Incident Support Project)
01223 462615
Useful websites
Cambridgeshire Police
Commission for Racial Equality
Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum
Institute of Race Relations
True Vision Stop Hate Crime
Contact details
To find out more about the BME Staff Group, contact Cambridge City Council (01223-457127)
- Imran Bukari imran.bukhari@cambridge.gov.uk ext 8112
- Michael Malone michael.malone@cambridge.gov.uk ext 8125
- Althea Mejias althea.mejias@cambridge.gov.uk ext 8276
- Abbey Oguns abbey.oguns@cambridge.gov.uk ext 8226
- Tulat Raja tulat.raja@cambridge.gov.uk ext 7967
- or email bme@cambridge.gov.uk