Runnymede Trust


The Runnymede Trust is a race equality think tank founded in 1968 by Jim Rose and Anthony Lester, with the aim of acting as an independent source for generating intelligence for a multi-ethnic Britain through research, network building, leading debate and policy engagement. In 2015 its director was Omar Khan and its chairman is Clive Jones CBE.

Policy areas

Runnymede currently undertakes research in the following areas:
Runnymede also holds the secretariat of the UK Race and Europe Network which is a UK-wide network of more than 200 organisations involved in race relations and combating racism at a local, national or European level.

Work

Essays on Class and Race

In 2009, Runnymede published a collection of essays by leading thinkers on race and class, considering the relationship between social class and race equality. They argued that the white working class is discriminated against on a range of different fronts, but they are not discriminated against for being white.

Antisemitism

In 1992, The Runnymede Trust set up a committee to examine Antisemitism in the UK. In 1994, after two years of research, the committee published its final report, entitled "A Very Light Sleeper - The persistence & dangers of antisemitism."

Faith schools

Runnymede published research in 2008 concluding that faith schools in England must become schools for all children in order to encourage interaction between people of different faiths and ethnicities. The report was published after a two-year investigation into the impact that faith schools have on community cohesion.

Islamophobia

In 1996, Runnymede established a Commission on British Muslims and Islamophobia, chaired by Gordon Conway, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sussex. The report, which was launched by Labour Home Secretary Jack Straw, was largely responsible for popularising the term Islamophobia in British political discourse.

Commission on the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain

In 1997, Runnymede established the Commission on the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain to consider the political and cultural implications of the changing diversity of the UK. The commission was chaired by Lord Professor Bhikhu Parekh. The commission published its findings and recommendations in October 2000. Two thirds of its recommendations were accepted by the government.

Senior staff

Chairpeople

The Runnymede Trust is a registered charity under English law. It has a wide range of donors, from high-street banks to TV companies. Significantly, the Home Office of the UK government is a contributor. However, the major donors are, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the Robert Gavron Charitable Trust, who share a trustee, Dr Katherine S Gavron, with the Runnymede Trust.