- 3 min read
It's been five years since the launch of Deeds Not Words Pledge. Our action alongside the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan (ARWAP) 2030 progressed the recruitment, partnerships, governance and awareness of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at FCHA and across our partner organisations.
Despite the clear achievements, systemic racism continues to affect diverse communities across the country. Inequities in housing access, career progression, and lived experiences persist—impacting staff, tenants, and communities alike, as highlighted in Tai Pawb’s recent sector survey.
We remain committed to anti-racist action at FCHA. We, alongside many others are continuing to progress, amplify calls for justice, and ensure communities remain connected and empowered.
The pledge
1. Stand against racism and harmful narratives
We will create safe environments for staff, tenants and communities, through:
· Enforcing zero-tolerance policies and practices with trusted, safe reporting systems for racism and hate incidents.
· Preventing and challenging scapegoating of migrant communities with facts, human stories, community and staff engagement, education or other relevant approaches.
· Regularly training and educating board, colleagues and (if relevant) tenants on anti-racism, unconscious bias and any other relevant topics
2. Tackle racial disparities in housing conditions
We will work to ensure fair and equitable housing conditions for ethnic minority communities, through:
Actively identifying and, where present, tackle racial disparities in any relevant areas, such as overcrowding, damp, mould, repairs, maintenance or homelessness ensuring prompt response to issues (stock holding organisations)
Using our voice and influence to highlight and/or address racial disparities in any relevant areas such as overcrowding, damp, mould repairs, maintenance or homelessness (all organisations)
3. Advance fair representation and champion career progression
We will remove barriers for ethnic minority colleagues and open pathways to management and leadership, through:
Applying inclusive and targeted approaches in recruitment to achieve change in hiring and reflect community diversity including positive action where possible
Offering mentoring, sponsorship or other career development opportunities and pathways tailored to support progression and pipelines to management and leadership roles.
Support and Equip HR teams with the knowledge to navigate immigration rules fairly and effectively, helping to remove barriers to employment for migrants.
4. Use data and engagement to drive racial equity and diversity
We will improve how we use data and engage with communities to inform anti-racist action, through:
Closing data gaps and tracking ethnicity data across:
recruitment and all employee levels to ensure fair representation and progression (including preparing for ethnicity pay gap requirements)
housing conditions, repairs and maintenance (where relevant)
anti-racist, bias and other relevant training data
Engaging, removing communication barriers and centering the lived experience and leadership of people affected by racism to shape service design and delivery
Our Shared Commitment
We recognise that dismantling racism requires more than strategy—it requires courage, honesty, and sustained commitment.
In the face of increasing resistance to EDI, our pledge is more than symbolic—it is a deliberate act of solidarity and accountability.
As signatories to Deeds Not Words 2.0, we commit to:
Reporting transparently on our actions and progress each year.
Applying top level oversight and scrutiny of our anti-racist commitments at board/committee level
Defending and advance anti-racist work across the sector, even in a hostile climate.
Collaborate across the housing sector to ensure every person in Wales can access a safe, decent and dignified home—free from racism.
Together, we commit to real change — not just in policy, but in people’s lived experiences.
To sign Up to this pledge: Please email me your name/organisation and signature:
E.g.
Donna Webb – Director of Corporate Services & Housing – FCHA
