About the facilitators

David Woodger

David lectures and convenes undergraduate and post-graduate programmes in the Social Sciences with a focus in Community Development and Youth work at Goldsmiths, University of London. His teaching and research specialise on race, racism, social justice and equalities, examining professional practice in the context of institutional racism. David is centrally involved at Goldsmiths in racial justice work chairing the Anti-racist training committee.

He presently is undertaking a large research project on racism and social media and is also researching and facilitating focus groups in HE on student and staff experiences in Universities that have included Imperial, LSE and Goldsmiths.

Colette Ferns

Colette currently lectures at Goldsmiths College on the MSc Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault course, Lecturer on the Youth and Community Development under graduate degree course and runs a short course in Conflict Transformation with a focus upon race equality and social justice.

Colette has conducted action research programmes for the Home Office around racial harassment and racial attacks. Ministry of Justice action research upon the nature and extend of youth violence and knife crime. Most recently working with the Department of Health and Social Care around safeguarding and reflective practice for staff working within the Quarantine Estate and the Afghan humanitarian crisis. She has also been facilitating focus groups in HE on student and staff experiences in Universities including Imperial and LSE.

Our Approach

The approach that Colette and David have collaboratively adopted in their work in the field of race equality has focused on a critical examination of organisational systems, processes and relationships that are structurally informed, organised, and shaped by institutional racism. This approach affords critical reflection upon the systemic power dynamics and authority that supports and perpetuates race inequality and the impacted intersectional relationships. The focus and exploration of this approach are on the notion of whiteness as a power structure and the professional position that reinforces, legitimises, and reproduces in the relationships and organisational process of institutions, services, and practice.

Colette and David have developed methodologies and reflective practice processes that enable professionals to explore and identify the causes and dynamics of racism. This reflective process affords, personal, professional insight into the intra and inter- personal perspectives, that are embedded within professional practice and organisational norms.

A﻿bout the facilitators

David Woodger

Colette Ferns

Our Approach

About the facilitators

Staff Focus Group - Race Equality Charter Focus Groups