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Reflections from Hull Sisters Racism is not simply an individual act of prejudice or an isolated incident of discrimination. It is a deeply rooted system of power that destroys lives, fractures families, shatters confidence, and leaves lasting scars on a person’s identity and sense of worth. For many of us, racism creates an internal struggle that never fully rests-a constant questioning of one’s humanity, competence, and belonging. It forces people to ask themselves repeatedly, “What have I done wrong?” even when they have done nothing at all. Racism limits personal development, blocks opportunities, and slows progress in ways that are often invisible to those who do not experience it. Its impact is not only emotional but also physical and psychological. Stress, anxiety, depression, loss of confidence, and chronic fear are common outcomes. Over time, racism affects how people work, how they interact with institutions, and how much trust they place in systems that are supposed to protect and support them. For Hull Sisters, racism is not an abstract concept. It is a daily reality that shapes the lives of our clients and the work we do. Our organisation occupies a unique position: we support women who face racism, yet we also experience racism ourselves as a grassroots, minority‑led women’s organisation. This dual experience gives us a deep understanding of the pain, humiliation, and injustice our clients endure. We do not simply empathise—we share their struggle. A Shared Experience between Hull Sisters and Our Clients Hull Sisters has a unique and deeply connected relationship with its service users when it comes to racism. On one hand, we support women and families who are facing racism in their daily lives, at work, in schools, in housing, within health services, and in interactions with the police and other authorities. On the other hand, Hull Sisters itself has been a victim of racism at an institutional and structural level. This shared experience allows us to understand our clients in a way that goes beyond professional training or policy frameworks. We do not only listen to their pain; we recognise it because we have lived it ourselves. We understand the fear, the hesitation, and the exhaustion that comes with challenging racism, particularly when it comes from people or institutions that hold power. Hull Sisters supports clients at every step of their journey. We encourage them to report racist incidents to the police when appropriate. If racism occurs within government departments, local authorities, or public services, we support women and make efforts not only to break down barriers but also to submit formal complaints through the appropriate processes. When children experience racism in schools, especially when black and minority pupils are not believed or taken seriously in incidents involving white students, we stand beside families and advocate on their behalf. However, many people from minority communities do not report racism at all. Years of being ignored, dismissed, or treated unfairly have taught them that speaking up often comes with risks and rarely brings justice. Fear of retaliation, fear of not being believed, and fear of further discrimination silence many voices. Hull Sisters believes that racism coming from positions of power such as institutions, government departments, funders, and educated professionals is far more damaging and long-lasting than racism from an individual on the street. When racism is embedded in systems, it becomes harder to challenge and easier to deny. This may be one of the reasons racism has spread so deeply within society. Experiencing Institutional Racism as an Organisation Hull Sisters and its board members have been pressurised to work in isolation, much like our clients. Throughout our journey, we were repeatedly made to feel that we were “lesser than” our white counterparts, regardless of our impact, professionalism, or dedication and commitment. We were treated as outsiders and strangers and people who are not worthy. When we were evicted from our building, we were denied support until we launched a campaign and national organisations became involved. In one particularly disturbing example, two local funders went as far as suggesting changes to our board. A representative from a national organisation, who was coordinating between Hull Sisters and the council regarding a building, contacted one of these funders. During that conversation, the funder’s CEO clearly stated that if our CEO were demoted and replaced, and if other board members were replaced with white board members, Hull Sisters would receive guaranteed annual funding and support with council matters. Otherwise, both funders would withhold funding. For 13 years, Hull Sisters has been a low priority for funding, receiving either no funding or extremely limited funding in the local area. Funding was not only restricted for us, but rumours were also spread to discourage other funders from supporting us. Funding offers were withdrawn from us without any reason. When funding was given, it came with harsh terms and conditions, as well as additional scrutiny and monitoring. This experience was not only financially damaging but also emotionally devastating. It communicated a clear message: our leadership, our identity, and our independence were not acceptable unless they aligned with white power structures. The worst situation occurred when we were evicted from our building, and it took us one and a half years to secure an abandoned building with a very limited annual budget, especially to cover bills, council tax, and repairs. We had no chairs or tables, and for one month we delivered sessions on the floor. Our morale was high, the women were united, and they were happy that at least they had a roof over their heads. In another example, a councillor openly told our board member during a meeting that because she was white and local, she would get a building for her supported charitable work. This direct and plain statement clearly showed that as a white British person, one had priority over others. This was said without hesitation, apology, or shame. When we were evicted from our building, instead of being supported by services, a carefully planned campaign was raised against us