Foreword by Hazel Blears and Sadiq Khan

The past decade has seen real progress in tackling race inequality. There has been practical change in areas of life ranging from health, to housing, to education; better outcomes for people of Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds; and a welcome shift in attitudes, with people increasingly confident about rejecting racism and challenging unacceptable behaviour.

However, we all know that serious challenges still remain. People from different BAME backgrounds are still more likely to be on the wrong end of the criminal justice system, still more likely to have mental health problems, still more likely to grow up in poverty. There are still obstacles that stop people reaching their full potential – from public services that operate as if “one size fits all”, to a lack of ambition and self-belief.

Today, in order to build on the progress of the past ten years, and to take account of new challenges such as the global economic downturn, we are looking afresh at our strategy for tackling race inequality. As we consider where we need to concentrate our resources, and what our priorities should be, we want to draw on the expertise and insight out there in our communities: in charities, voluntary organisations, community groups, local authorities, businesses, schools, universities, and more. This is your chance to be part of the conversation. Together, we can take the next steps forward.

- Hazel Blears & Sadiq Khan