A message from EDI Chair Darren Johnson to the BMC community

Photo: Darren Johnson (left) at BMC Basecamp Festival this summer.

To my fellow BMC members,

I want to take this opportunity to share some thoughts about our ongoing work on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), and the expectations that surround it.

When it comes to EDI, there will always be a range of views. For some, progress may feel too slow, too narrow, or not ambitious enough. For others, it may feel like we are moving too quickly, or in directions that challenge what they are comfortable with. These tensions are real and they are not unique to the BMC. They are part of what happens when we commit ourselves to change in an area that touches people’s identities, values, and lived experiences.

I want to acknowledge this reality clearly: not everyone will feel entirely satisfied at all times. Some will feel we should be doing more, faster. Others will feel we are already going too far. But this does not mean that our work is not serious, nor that it lacks ambition or purpose.

Our role – my role and that of the EDI committee – is to guide the BMC along a path that brings as many people with us as possible. We are committed to policies and actions that help make our organisation, and the activities we love, more accessible and inclusive. At the same time, we must pace that journey in a way that keeps the broadest possible community engaged.

To those already committed to EDI, I want to assure you that we are not complacent. We know that where we are now is not where we will finish. But change that lasts, and change that includes, must be built in a way that can be sustained and embraced across the BMC.

To those who may not see themselves as directly affected by EDI issues, or who may feel these discussions are not for them, I want to extend an invitation. Your perspective matters, and so does your participation. Inclusion is not about diminishing anyone’s experience, but about recognising that our community is stronger when it reflects and respects a diversity of experiences.

This work is not about berating or criticising those who are hesitant or unsure. It is about creating pathways for understanding, and about building shared interests that bring us together rather than push us apart.

The direction of travel is clear: towards a more inclusive BMC, where more people feel welcome, valued, and able to participate fully. The pace we are moving at is deliberate – fast enough to make meaningful progress, but careful enough to keep our community together on the journey.

I thank you all – staff, members, and volunteers – for your engagement, your honesty, and your willingness to travel this path with us.

Yours sincerely,

Darren Johnson

BMC EDI Committee Chair.

Join the BMC Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Committee

We're looking for passionate members to help drive positive change across the BMC by joining our EDI Committee in a voluntary capacity.As a committee member, you'll help shape our strategic direction and support the delivery of our Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan.

We're seeking individuals who:
✅ Bring expertise, insight or lived experience in relation to under-represented groups and communities (including physical, sensory, and mental health needs)
✅ Have a welcoming, inclusive approach
✅ Can communicate effectively and advocate for equity and representation

📅 Apply by Midnight on Sunday 12 October
🗣️ Zoom discussions: Week commencing 3 November (for shortlisted candidates)

BMC Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan

Launched in Summer 2025, the BMC Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan sets out our vision for the future by recognising where we are now and where we would like to get to. This plan establishes our firm commitment to diversity and inclusion from leadership and governance, through internal recruitment practices to the programmes we will deliver to engage and support more underrepresented communities.