Reflections: tending to ourselves and facing the root causes of the eruptions of the racist violence

By Natsayi Sithole, Bonnie Chiu, Katie Fowler

Last week we prioritised spending time with our teams in Renaisi-TSIP, The Social Investment Consultancy (TSIC), and TSIP, attending to staff of colour first and foremost, holding space to reflect and process, and to begin to set out what we should be recommitting to following the racist violence that took place in towns and cities we call home. This is an ongoing discussion, however we are sharing our collective perspective and feelings today.

We are all outraged and saddened to be experiencing and witnessing what we believe is a wholly predictable rise of racist, xenophobic and Islamophobic violence sweeping the country led by the far-right.

We are unequivocal in our condemnation of the disgraceful use of the appalling killing of three children and the pain of the community in Southport to justify more violence. Whilst this crime has been instrumentalised by the far-right, we also know that these riots and the underpinning ideologies did not emerge from nowhere, nor will they disappear overnight.

Facing what has happened

As a team, we are still trying to make sense of what these events may mean for us all moving forward. Some of us and our loved ones have been directly impacted and we are all affected especially those who have experienced this kind of violence in the past. Clients and partners we work alongside have been forced to pause their work. Our colleagues who are not born and raised in the UK have especially struggled to understand why the eruption of racist violence is happening now.

We believe these riots are a powerful reminder that actions have consequences, and that structural racism operates from the top down, not the bottom up. 

This is the result of the ongoing dehumanisation, demonisation, and perpetuation of racist and Islamophobic narratives through political discourse which are amplified through mainstream media, and the spreading of disinformation via social media. These narratives are part of the same ways of seeing that vilify UK Palestinian solidarity protests as “hate marches”, whilst powerful actors simultaneously stoked the flames of anti-migrant rhetoric in the run- up to the recent election.

These ideas underpin dehumanising hostile environment immigration policies, the over-policing of racialised communities through securitisation policies such as the Prevent Duty, that surveils and criminalises communities and children, turning schools, nurseries, and healthcare settings into places of risk and unsafety for people of colour; this policy that has been repeatedly been flagged by lawyers and campaigners as unlawful and incompatible with human rights.

Moreover, systemic disinvestment in places and austerity gutting public services and social infrastructure has created deep chasms of disadvantage and neglect. This sits alongside the constant drumbeat of dog-whistle divisive and scapegoating narratives, thus creating the conditions for a minority to be emboldened to enact their hatred without repercussion. A toxic combination fuelled by political and rhetorical choices. These choices provide intellectual cover for the far-right to enact violence on the same people who are victims to these dangerous and pervasive everyday narratives in our society. 

It’s important to note that these reasons are not exhaustive. These are some of the deep-seated challenges that we work on with our partners and clients. Whether that is putting decision-making and resources into the hands of local people and local organisations, or co-creating how change can be achieved through place-based practice, or tackling systemic defunding / underfunding and investment in for -and- by-led organisations, health inequalities,  violence against women and girls, or diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and so much more. 

Moving forward 

It is crucial for social impact organisations to reaffirm commitment to our core missions. This means not only continuing our work but also critically examining our approaches to ensure they are genuinely anti-oppressive and effective in addressing systemic inequalities. We recognise that meaningful change starts from within our organisations, from the inside-out not the outside-in, addressing practices that may inadvertently perpetuate oppressive dynamics, and this work is taking shape for us.

We must shine a spotlight on the invaluable work being done by by-and for minoritised, underrepresented and Muslim-led organisations also including those who work across various intersections of society. These groups are often at the forefront of fighting against discrimination and supporting vulnerable communities, yet they frequently operate with limited resources and recognition.

We call upon funders to recognise the urgent need for support in communities that have been targeted or are at risk. This support should go beyond short-term crisis response and invest in long-term resilience building. Flexible funding mechanisms that allow organisations to adapt quickly to changing circumstances are essential. Moreover, funders should prioritise supporting local, community-led initiatives that deeply understand the context and needs on the ground.

As we navigate these turbulent times, we must build strong solidarity networks across different communities and organisations. By standing together, sharing resources, and supporting each other, we can create a more robust and resilient social sector. This unity is not just about weathering the present, but about building a foundation for a more just and equitable society in the long term.