In the early days of the North East Anti-Racism Coalition (NEARC), we came together with a simple but powerful belief: that racism in our region can and must be challenged, not by isolated voices, but through collective action. Today, that belief feels more important than ever. Across the North East, communities, organisations, and leaders are working in difficult, often uncertain conditions – yet the commitment to equity and justice has not faded. If anything, it has grown stronger.
What gives us hope is not the absence of challenge, but the presence of people who refuse to look away. We see this in grassroots groups supporting their communities with compassion and courage. We see it in organisations and leaders willing to move beyond statements towards structural change. And we see it in individuals across the region who continue to speak up, organise, and imagine something better, often at personal cost. Their resistance fuels ours.
Recent challenges, from rising anti-asylum sentiment to racist right-wing activity, remind us that solidarity is not enough on its own. Words like “we stand by you” must be backed by action. Solidarity without practice becomes performance; solidarity with action becomes change.
At NEARC, we believe that change is not linear. Progress comes through persistence, relationships, and the thousands of small acts that shift systems over time. Our strength lies in being a coalition: bringing together activists, communities, practitioners, public bodies, and organisations who share a commitment to dismantling racism in all its forms. Each brings different expertise, lived experience, and perspective. Together, we hold space for honesty, accountability, and action.
As we approach the end of the year, it’s a good moment to reflect on what we’ve achieved together. In 2025, NEARC has:
- Attracted nearly 1,000 individuals and organisations to the movement
- Carried out the first piece of research into the incidence and impact of racism in this region
- Set up a Research Steering Group involving people with lived experience and academics from all universities across the North East
- Stablished a number of working groups, powered by volunteers working to help realise our shared ambition
These achievements remind us of the power of collective effort, but also of the work that remains. Looking ahead, we are committed to deepening our impact, connecting communities with decision-makers, and continuing to hold systems accountable. Anti-racist work and movement building is ongoing: there are more voices to lift, more change to drive, and more solidarity to turn into action.
Hope is not naive; it is a strategy. Change is possible because people make it possible. In the North East, our collective power is a commitment to turning solidarity into action. This remains our greatest resource. Join us in building an anti-racist North East – sign up, stay connected, and be part of the collective work shaping change across our region.