The ARWAP Implementation Programme 2025-26 supports social services directors in Wales to embed recommendations on eliminating racism in recruitment, career progression and complaints handling.
Following our reports with ADSS Cymru, this programme is about putting the learning into practice through leadership, lived experience, and shared resources.
Funded by Welsh Government, this part of the programme runs from April 2025 to March 2026 and is delivered in partnership with local authority leaders, Social Care Wales, the WLGA, and the HRD Network.
Our Approach
The programme focuses on three interconnected workstreams:
1. Leading the change
A series of reflective workshops with Directors and Heads of Service, exploring the leadership qualities, behaviours and cultural shifts needed to lead anti-racist change from the top.
- 46 leaders attended workshops in June–July 2025
- Workshop Summary Report and Leadership Resource Pack available to support local action
- Designed to support alignment with WRES and Welsh Government’s Maturity Matrix
2. Cultural Ambassador Network
Each local authority is invited to nominate a Cultural Ambassador: this is a frontline leader, practitioner or manager who will support local implementation of the ARWAP recommendations and act as a bridge between strategy and lived experience.
- The Cultural Ambassador Network launches in September 2025
- An Information Pack and Terms of Reference will be issued in August 2025
- Quarterly peer learning sessions to share progress and challenges will be arranged
3. Leadership Development – Developing an Anti-Racist Workforce
Further leadership development will be arranged for November 2025. These will be bespoke workshops for leaders and managers, equipping them with the tools to initiate and facilitate conversations about race with confidence and compassion.