Chancellor,  

I am Devyani Prabhat, a Professor of Law who studies immigration, nationality and asylum laws.  In my work I come across issues of race and discrimination especially in the context of crossing borders. I also study wider issues of inequality which often contribute to migration experiences. I am therefore delighted to present you Alex Raikes MBE DL(Hon LLD, UWE) as someone who has immense experience in tackling racism and inequality through her work for SARI (Stand Against Racism & Inequality) 

This Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law is awarded in recognition of Alex’s commitment to social inclusion and cohesion and her work supporting the victims of hate crime in the region. Alex has fought for community cohesion, anti-racism, and equal justice for decades via her work at Stand Against Racism & Inequality (SARI), a leading, regional hate crime charity, dedicated to tackling hate crime and promoting equality and community cohesion across Avon and Somerset. Under her leadership, SARI’s work offers vital support and advocacy for victims of hate crime, and she would be an inspirational honorary graduate of the University. 

Alex graduated from the University of Bristol with a degree in Social Policy having previously worked with children with learning disabilities in care. She joined SARI in 1991 soon after the Charity started. SARI provides a specialist casework service – dealing with about 500 new cases a year ranging from incidents such as verbal abuse or property damage to murder – education and training initiatives, young offender reduction programmes, restorative justice approaches and offers consultancy support to a range of services on equality and cultural competency. Alex was awarded an MBE for her contribution to community relations in 2009 and a Deputy Lieutenant of Bristol in July 2020. 

SARI’s founding director, Batook Pandya MBE DL (BA Hons) tragically passed awayin 2014 and Alex took over the role to continue his outstanding work.  Alex now delivers SARI’s strategic and operational functions working with passion and conviction to keep victims of hate crime and communities safe.  Alex is working to take SARI to the next leg of its journey as a growing, successful, increasingly recognised human rights local Charity.  

In addition, last year Alex was appointed High Sheriff of Bristol, and one of the areas she has highlighted during her time in the role was to support people seeking sanctuary in the Avon and Somerset area. Galvanised by her own experience as the daughter of an Asylum-seeker and following the murders in 2013 of the refugee Bijan Ebrahimi and in 2015 of the Asylum-Seeker Kamil Ahmad Ali,Alex has worked very hard to build strong ties between SARI and Bristol Mind, Borderlands, Bristol Refugee Rights and the Hope Service to best support those people who are being hosted in the region.  

As a dual heritage individual, growing up in a single parent household and a deprived rural-based town and then as a single mum of 4 teenaged sons, Alex has first-hand experience of racial harassment, of discrimination and of running a busy and lively household.  

She has gained specialist and practical knowledge on all forms of hate crime and on delivering services to victims of such incidents. Alex has led on designing pioneering specialist collaborations for tackling hate crime, facilitated many complex situations involving conflict or community concerns which need addressing by public bodies or to invoke crucial learning for local services and sits on a number of local strategic partnerships. Under her leadership, SARI also advocates for the rights of the trans community, which is facing what Alex describes as one of the worst situations of hate, violence, and regression seen in decades.  

   

Alex says, “..hate crime, racist abuse, racial harassment, homophobic, transphobic abuse, has always been really severe and really high. It’s a regular, frequent form of abuse going on all day, every day, in our country.” Thus,SARI doesn’t stop at responding to instances of hate crime and violence through casework alone, they also strive to anticipate backlashes, and use data to better understand and prevent harm. By using predictive analytics, SARI believes that agencies can better tailor public outreach to uplift messages of unity, respect, and community, thus pre-empting and reducing harm. Training sessions in schools and agencies also help to minimize ignorance, minimize myths, and minimize scapegoating. By working to promote a society that respects individual differences and freedoms, SARI strives not only to respond to hate crimes but also prevent them. 

Alex emphasizes the need to not only be “non-racist” or “non-homophobic,” but “anti-racist” and “anti-homophobic.” It is not enough to simply be “non” or neutral, it is incumbent upon every individual to take up the responsibility to protect, celebrate, and fight to expand the rights of everyone, regardless of differences. I am inspired by Alex’s message for all to get involved in anti-racism, anti-homophobia, anti-hate and to become changemakers in our communities. 

Chancellor, I present to you Alex Raikes as eminently worthy of the degree of Doctor of Law honoris causa.