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At the special UNISON Anti-racism Charter and Allyship meeting in Neath Civic Centre on Thursday, May 23rd, 2024, NPT UNISON and the NPT Ethnic Network Group were both praised for their efforts in areas of anti-racism.

Also, South Wales Police Chief Superintendent Chris Truscott paid tribute to the great work being done through NPT Council’s commitment to the UNISON Anti-racism Charter.

Allyship is the practice of standing up for groups of people who are treated unfairly or badly by people who are not members of these groups. It can also mean people from different groups working together to support each other’s goals.

Guest speakers at the well-attended event included the Chief Executive of Neath Port Talbot Council, Karen Jones, the council’s Leader Cllr Steve Hunt, Mark Fisher (NPT UNISON Branch Secretary) and Riaz Hassan (Head of the Welsh Government Anti-racist Wales Action Plan).

Karen Jones told the meeting: “UNISON colleagues have been honoured nationally and won awards for the work they have done in this area. You have done credit to yourselves in shining a really positive spotlight on Neath Port Talbot.

“We have become a better organisation and deliver better services to our communities as a result of what you have done.”

NPT Ethnic Employee Network Group Chair, Shirley Newbury, added: “This is the first Anti-racism event of its kind in Neath Port Talbot. The UNISON Anti-racism Charter aligns with the NPT Future of Work Strategy and events like this discussing allyship and joined up thinking are vital in supporting our ambition to become a proud Anti‑Racist Council.”

The Neath Port Talbot Ethnic Employee Network Group was launched in March 2022 as part of Neath Port Talbot Council’s Anti-Racism Strategy. 

The Group aims to raise multicultural awareness within the workplace, to contribute to the NPT Ant‑racism strategy, and take steps to effect positive change.