Corra believes that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is fundamental to it’s ten-year strategy which centres on three themes; voice, power and change. At the heart of the strategy is the belief that when people find their voice, they unlock the power to make change happen.

Too many people feel their voice isn’t heard or listened to and decisions that affect them are taken by other people. Corra seeks to support people and communities to challenge the barriers that get in their way, with the aim of people being heard and having the power to create change. This is closely aligned with a human rights based approach, with its emphasis on: participation; accountability; non-discrimination and equality; empowerment; and legality.

Corra has been talking, listening, learning and thinking about what DEI means and has developed a DEI statement. This articulates what DEI means for Corra, and details what Corra is doing, and planning, so that DEI is fully embedded throughout its work. It includes commitments around how Corra acts as an employer, a charity and independent foundation, a funder, a partner (including delivering funding on behalf of others) and as an organisation that seeks to influence change more widely in Scotland. Read Corra’s DEI statement here.

Corra is committed to transparency, including participating in 360 Giving and being part of the IVAR Open and Trusting Grantmakers pledge. This principle of openness will be reflected in Corra’s work on DEI, with information shared on this page, as well as via blogs and social media. This transparency will help Corra to be accountable to those it exists to serve.

Anti-racism

In June 2020 Corra published a statement on anti-racism. The statement included a set of initial commitments to actions that Corra would take, pending further discussion and thought. Since then, a number of actions have been taken forward, including:

• Internal Anti-racism Working Group established, with membership made up of staff and trustees.
• Detailed action plan developed and underway.
• Support given to the full staff and trustee team to build skills and knowledge to better understand racism. This has included introductory training, informal lunchtime sessions (for example focused on Black History Month) and sharing and collation of resources, for example key reports, blogs and events. Many of the Corra team have attended events focused on DEI and anti-racism in recent months and shared this learning with colleagues.
• Internal change project established, supported by dedicated staff time and with the aim of ensuring pace to this work.
• Offered peer support to Next Step Initiative in their development as an intermediary funding partner for Comic Relief.
• Working alongside Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities in Scotland to develop a community-led grants programme, made possible through a donation of £150,000 from Stewart Investors.
• A focus in Corra’s community stories on hearing voices that are seldom heard, including from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities.
• Participation in the 2027 Programme, with a focus on hosting someone from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic Community.
• Work to develop and widen Corra’s networks and relationships, including proactively reaching out to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities as part of grants programmes and in activity related to the Social Action Inquiry.