# Insufficient progress on policies means Wellcome is still perpetuating systemic racism

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2022/08/11/insufficient-progress-on-policies-means-wellcome-is-still-perpetuating-systemic-racism/
- Published: 2022-08-11T11:30:12+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Wellcome has made insufficient progress in addressing racism at the organisation,
with an evaluation finding that it remains institutionally racist two years after
it publicly recognised the fact.**

At the time, [Wellcome](https://wellcome.org/) pledged to become an anti-racist 
organisation, with a programme of work including the creation of anti-racist principles
and an anti-racist toolkit, anti-racism training for staff, and an external evaluation
of progress as a research funder and employer.

This week saw [an evaluation of the programme](https://cms.wellcome.org/sites/default/files/2022-08/Evaluation-of-Wellcome-Anti-Racism-Programme-Final-Evaluation-Report-2022.pdf)
shared with staff. Despite finding “some positive behavioural and practice shifts”
it concludes that “there has been insufficient action taken to allow this commitment
to take root”.

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Findings included:

 * Institutional racism continues to exist due to “cultural, structural and leadership
   deficits across the organisation”.
 * Wellcome has not made sufficient progress since June 2020 and is perpetuating
   systemic racism within the wider research sector.
 * Lack of diversity in senior leadership is impeding progress.
 * 25% of staff identifying as Black and people of colour agree or strongly agree
   they have been treated unfairly or discriminated against due to an aspect of 
   their identity. 20% of staff identifying as Black and people of colour experienced
   racist or classist comments targeted at them or regular microaggressions.
 * Staff identifying as Black and people of colour are carrying the burden of creating
   change, with a heavy reliance on staff network groups.
 * The anti-racism toolkit and training have so far failed to have a positive impact.

The evaluation confirms feedback from staff and advisers, such as an external anti-
racism expert advisory group appointed in November 2020, who resigned in March this
year.

Areas of positive practice within Wellcome highlighted in the report include in 
the funder’s mental health team and its data for science and health team.

Commenting, Dr Jeremy Farrar, Director of Wellcome said:

> “Wellcome is still doing too little to use its power and influence to counter 
> racism. We have fallen short of commitments made to colleagues and to the research
> community. As a consequence of us not doing more and not acting sooner, Wellcome
> remains an institutionally racist organisation.
>  
> “Wellcome has played and continues to play a role in sustaining racism both in
> its own operations and in the wider research sector. I am sorry for the actions
> and inactions behind this, and the hurt and disappointment these have caused.
>  
> “It’s clear that unacceptable behaviour still exists at Wellcome. The leadership
> team, like so many of our colleagues at Wellcome, are determined to change this.
> We will do better.”

In response, Wellcome has announced further actions, including:

 * Positive action principles will be applied to its funding decision-making process
   to ensure that when applications are similar in merit, Wellcome favours those
   which add to the diversity of the pool of people it supports. 
 * A dedicated funding stream for researchers who are Black and people of colour,
   targeted at the career stages where this will have the greatest benefits for 
   diversity.
 * A new equity, diversity and inclusion role at executive level, reporting to the
   director, to lead on Wellcome’s internal and external work on equity, diversity
   and inclusion, including a specific focus on anti-racism, and on implementing
   and extending Wellcome’s existing [diversity and inclusion strategy](https://wellcome.org/what-we-do/diversity-and-inclusion/strategy),
   launched in 2021.

Farrar added:

> “Our existing approaches to grant funding are not delivering equity. We’re now
> clear that we won’t be successful in improving equity in our research funding,
> and thereby in tackling structural racism in the research sector, without taking
> positive action.
>  
> “The question remaining for us is not whether we do this, but the details of how
> we do it. We are now focusing on these implementation questions, engaging and 
> listening to those with lived experience and to our partners in the sector as 
> we do so”