Levelling the Playing Field exchanged valuable learning with equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) experts from the legal profession over the summer. 

Justin Coleman, Chief Operating Officer of the Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice (which manages Levelling the Playing Field), was a special guest speaker at Winckworth Sherwood LLP, a legal firm that takes pride in creating an environment that is inclusive for all. 

Winckworth Sherwood has a firm-wide EDI committee comprising over 25 colleagues who focus on creating an inclusive, diverse and psychologically safe working environment. Supported by the firm’s management, the committee’s activities range from creating sub-networks around specific areas such as LGBTQ+ and disability to facilitating awareness-raising talks and training on unconscious bias, allyship, disability and social equality. 

Justin delivered one of those awareness-raising talks in July as part of a summer series. He explained the ethos and impact of Levelling the Playing Field. 

Ruo Wu (pictured above), Senior Associate of Charities and Social Enterprises at Winckworth Sherwood, as well as Director of the Charity Law Association, said the feedback from the EDI committee was “hugely positive.” 

She said: “There was so much alignment between our committee’s role and the vital work you guys are doing. 

“The Criminal Justice System is something quite dear to me and, being from an ethnic minority myself, the statistics around over-representation in youth justice are hard to swallow. Something needs to be done about it and it’s scientifically proven that sport is an effective solution. 

“Sport has so many benefits, not least teamwork. I participate in positive teamwork in other charities’ sporting projects and see the benefits it brings to youth from tough backgrounds. 

“I had role models in my life who provided me with a moral compass, but if you don’t have that as your basis you can see how easily it would be to fall outside the net and do things you’re not proud of.  

“Through the use of role models, sport, collaboration and teamwork, you can re-direct a young person’s life for the better and bring out their potential – that is what came across very strongly from Justin’s talk.” 

The connection between Levelling the Playing Field and Winckworth Sherwood began when Justin and Ruo met at last year’s Charity Commission AGM in Cardiff. 

Ruo changed jobs thereafter but, after joining the EDI committee at her new firm, she contacted him with a request to speak to the group, which consists of colleagues from all levels of seniorities and backgrounds. Ruo says the committee is part of the fabric of the firm and a good example of how EDI should be embraced by charities and large organisations. 

“I don’t feel like an anomaly,” she says. “I feel part of the culture because it’s so inclusive. There aren’t many Chinese lawyers generally, let alone working in the charity sector in somewhere like Oxford! But I don’t feel like I stick out. I feel very included, supported and listened-to.”  

She added: “EDI is taken very seriously here. As soon as I joined, I could see evidence rather than rhetoric. It’s sometimes hard to distinguish between firms who talk about EDI because they’re trying to tick a box or impress clients and firms where it’s embedded as part of the culture. 

“Something that Justin said to us really resonated – that it’s not just about putting a bunch of ethnic minorities in a room; it’s about who has a voice in that room. In our EDI committee, even though we have partners as members, no one person dominates. We get to know one another and our different cultures on a deeper level.” 

She adds: “Being in an inclusive environment really helps. Our firm makes an active effort in filtering out unconscious bias and gives us time to reflect on those principles. 

“Other effective strategies are having mentors and participating in outreach programmes. I’ve worked in firms where we spent evenings in a deprived community providing free legal advice to minorities and migrants. Some of these projects have been going on for decades which show it’s not a box-ticking exercise.” 

Justin said of the summer session with the Winckworth Sherwood EDI committee: “The opportunity to present to an audience outside of the Sport for Development and Criminal Justice space is very useful to check that we are doing things that matter to wider society. 

“The committee has not only enabled our collective EDI voice to be heard but have validated our mission. It was also inspiring to learn about positive promotion of EDI in other sectors.” 

• Ruo currently hosts the Charity Law Conversations podcast series at Winckworth Sherwood LLP which can be accessed here 
• In her previous role, Ruo recorded over 25 podcasts featuring interviews with chief executives, trustees and representatives of charities and social enterprises. These can be accessed here