.jpg)
The Plymouth Race Equality Council (REC) is run by a voluntary board of Directors and its current chair is Steve Pearce, the former Deputy Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police. For the last three years Cyril Whittaker, Community Services Manager with DCHA, has served on the Board of the REC representing the work of housing associations. At the recent AGM, he was elected Vice Chair of the board and took up his new role in January.
Second only to Bristol, Plymouth has the largest percentage of residents from a black and minority ethnic background (often referred to as BME) in the south west and the city’s population is further diversified by the recent influx of economic migrants from Eastern Europe.
The REC helps to support these groups to integrate into the local community by providing local community workers, language and interpretation facilities, and education and training. The REC also provides a vital link between these communities and other organisations working in the city that might be looking to provide services to BME and other ethnic groups. REC deals with as many as 150 enquiries each week, many of these housing related.
The Devon and Cornwall group has recognised the need to engage with BME residents and has been a strong supporter of the work of the REC, giving annual financial assistance, and supporting the ‘Housing with Respect’ project*
"This appointment offers a great opportunity for RSLs throughout the city to work together to understand the needs of the local BME community, engage with them to improve the level of service we provide and to ensure that our services are as widely accessible as possible ". Cyril Whittaker
*In partnership with DCHA, REC, Westcountry Housing Association, Tamar Housing Association and Plymouth City Council, a Black and Minority Ethnic Advisory Group (BME) was set up in response to the need to meet the challenges posed to housing providers in the Race Equality Code of Practice, published by the Housing Corporation in partnership with the National Housing Federation and the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE).
