Funding to explore the development needs of BAME leaders

Funding from the OU’s Rapid Response to COVID-19 is making it possible to explore the development needs of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) leaders.

A project led by Dr Carol Jacklin-Jarvis, Director of the Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership (CVSL) in the OU’s Faculty of Business & Law (FBL), has received almost £10,000 to research the leadership capacities of BAME leaders in Milton Keynes (MK). Effective BAME leadership is a critical challenge in ensuring adequate representation of marginalised communities in local civic leadership.

Through the work of Visiting Fellow, Dr Fidele Mutwarasibo, CVSL has established links with Thames Valley Police – Milton Keynes, MK Council, NHS Milton Keynes Clinical Commissioning Group, MK Community Foundation and Community Action:MK, around building trusting relationships with BAME communities. This research will be conducted by Dr Mutwarasibo, working with Dr Jacklin-Jarvis and Professor Siv Vangen, Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship in FBL.

Dr Jacklin-Jarvis said:

“COVID-19 exposed racial inequalities in the UK, and Black Lives Matter added impetus to BAME leaders’ involvement in civic leadership on racial equality.

Supporting leadership development in the BAME communities is a priority for CVSL and in line with the social justice mission of the Open University.”

The project is due to begin in early 2021 and plans to launch a report on findings by early summer.

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