Race Equality First
Race Equality First is a Cardiff-based Welsh charity founded in 1976 providing hate crime support, discrimination casework, advocacy, and anti-racism training to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities and organisations across Wales, funded by grants, donations, and the Welsh Government.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersCardiff, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Race Equality First does
Race Equality First (REF) is a registered charity and non-profit organisation founded in 1976 and headquartered in Cardiff, Wales. It is the lead body in Wales for tackling racial discrimination and provides a portfolio of support services, training programmes, and funded community projects primarily serving Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people across Wales. Core services include a Discrimination Casework Service providing advocacy and representation, a Hate Crime Support Service for victims and witnesses, and a suite of training products (Racism, Discrimination & Hate Crime Awareness Training; Cultural Awareness Training; Hate Crime Awareness Training; free school workshops aligned with the Welsh Government's Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan 2030). The organisation runs multiple funded projects including Financial & Digital Inclusion (Santander Foundation), Healthy Minds (mental health), MEE in Mind (Minority Ethnic Elders 50+), Chance for Change (gambling harms, with Ara Recovery For All), Know Your Rights, From South Asia to South Wales, the Amser Carers Programme, and the Representing Wales political empowerment pilot (January 2026 – March 2027). The organisation has nearly 50 years of operating history and works in partnership with the Welsh Government, UK Government, European Court of Human Rights, and the United Nations.
REF's revenue model is grant- and donation-based rather than commercial. Income is drawn from charitable donations (including bespoke campaign donations upwards of £40,000), government grants (Welsh Government), lottery funds (National Lottery Community Fund), and foundation grants (Carers Trust Wales, Santander Foundation, Comic Relief, Independent Age, National Grid). Training is delivered to organisations — including South Wales Police, Cardiff Council, and HM Revenue & Customs — on a bespoke, quote-based model with pricing dependent on length, content, number of attendees, and delivery mode, while school workshops are delivered free of charge. Distribution is regional (Wales) via direct service delivery from Cardiff, remote channels, in-person community delivery, volunteer champions, and the coordinated Wales Alliance for Racial Justice (a coalition of 11 Welsh third sector organisations). The organisation is small (under 15–19 employees) and operates with a hybrid working model. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is human-led casework, advocacy, and training.
Race Equality First firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Race Equality First
- Legal name
- Race Equality First
- Website
- https://raceequalityfirst.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Race Equality First is a Cardiff-based Welsh charity founded in 1976 providing hate crime support, discrimination casework, advocacy, and anti-racism training to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities and organisations across Wales, funded by grants, donations, and the Welsh Government.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Race Equality First industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Non-profit Racial Equality Advocacy Services
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Assistance (624), Individual and Family Services (6241)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Racial & Ethnic Justice Organizations (BPAGAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Human Rights, Social Inclusion & Disability Inclusion (BPAGABAN)
Keywords
Where Race Equality First is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cardiff
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Race Equality First business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Charitable Donations & Grants: Race Equality First is funded through charitable donations (individuals, corporate donors) and government/organizational grants. The organization has received donations upwards of £40,000 for bespoke campaigns and receives ongoing funding from the Welsh Government, National Lottery Community Fund, Carers Trust Wales, and others.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Bespoke training sessions for organizations |
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | Free anti-discrimination workshops for schools |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Race Equality First product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Race Equality First is a Wales-based charity that supports Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities through hate crime support, discrimination casework, advocacy, and equality training. The organization provides direct assistance to individuals facing racial discrimination while also delivering training programs to employers and public bodies to promote racial equality across Wales.
Product overview
Race Equality First is a charitable organization offering a portfolio of support services, training programs, and community projects. The core services include a Discrimination Casework Service and Hate Crime Support Service providing advocacy and representation. The training arm offers Racism Awareness Training, Cultural Awareness Training, School Workshops, and Hate Crime Awareness Training for organizations and educational institutions. The organization runs multiple funded projects including Financial & Digital Inclusion, Healthy Minds, Know Your Rights, MEE in Mind, and the Representing Wales political empowerment programme. These services and projects collectively aim to combat racial discrimination, support victims of hate crime, and advance racial equality across Wales.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hate Crime Support Service
- Discrimination Casework Service
- Advocacy and Empowerment Service
- Equality Training and Workshops
- Healthy Minds Project
Quantifiable outcome
- 6,041 hate crimes reported in Wales in year ending March 2023
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Race Equality First
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Race Equality First technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Race Equality First partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- United NationscoreRace Equality First works in partnership with the United Nations to ensure research and delivery is maximised. They have produced a UN Press Release as part of their impact work.
- European Court of Human RightscoreWorks in partnership with the European Court of Human Rights alongside the Welsh and UK Governments to maximise research and service delivery impact.
- UK GovernmentcoreWorks in partnership with the UK Government on policy and delivery related to hate crime and discrimination.
- Ara Recovery For AllcoreNational Gambling Support Network provider for Wales. Collaborates with Race Equality First on the Chance for Change project to raise awareness of gambling harms amongst minority ethnic communities.
- BAWSOcoreMember of the Wales Alliance for Racial Justice (WARJ), a collaboration of leading Welsh third sector organisations committed to advancing racial justice, equality and human rights.
- Women Connect FirstcoreMember of the Wales Alliance for Racial Justice (WARJ), supporting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic women.
- EYST (Ethnic Youth Support Team)coreMember of the Wales Alliance for Racial Justice (WARJ), providing youth support services.
- CCAWS (Coalition of African Liberation Struggle)minorMember of the Wales Alliance for Racial Justice (WARJ).
- NWREN (North Wales Racial Equality Network)minorMember of the Wales Alliance for Racial Justice (WARJ).
- Race Council CymrucoreMember of the Wales Alliance for Racial Justice (WARJ).
- HimilominorMember of the Wales Alliance for Racial Justice (WARJ).
- Show Racism the Red CardcoreMember of the Wales Alliance for Racial Justice (WARJ), anti-racism education organisation.
- Welsh Refugee CouncilcoreMember of the Wales Alliance for Racial Justice (WARJ), supporting refugees and asylum seekers in Wales.
- Amnesty InternationalminorMember of the Wales Alliance for Racial Justice (WARJ), international human rights organisation.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Race Equality First competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Citizens UK: UK-wide community organising alliance that runs the Living Wage campaign and related civic participation initiatives. Comparable as a broader civil society coalition building civic participation and advocacy capacity among minority communities.
- Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC): UK statutory body enforcing equality law and providing guidance on the Equality Act 2010. Operates as a broader incumbent providing regulatory and policy infrastructure that REF engages with on discrimination casework and training.
Direct peers
- Kick It Out: UK football's leading equality and inclusion organisation focused on tackling discrimination. Comparable as a racial justice charity delivering training, advocacy, and anti-discrimination education programmes with media partnerships.
- Runnymede Trust: UK independent race equality think tank producing research and policy recommendations on racial justice. Comparable in advocacy, research publication, and policy consultancy functions.
- Hope Not Hate: Major UK anti-racism and anti-far-right advocacy organisation running education programmes, community campaigns, and policy advocacy. Comparable in mission scope, funding model (grants and donations), and training offerings.
- Stop Hate UK: UK-wide charity providing 24/7 hate crime reporting helplines and victim support. Directly comparable to REF's Hate Crime Support Service and Discrimination Casework Service in mission and beneficiary focus, though operating at a larger national scale.
- Race Council Cymru: Wales-based race equality umbrella body promoting race equality and community cohesion. Directly comparable geographically and mission-wise, and a fellow WARJ alliance member.
- Welsh Refugee Council: Wales-based charity supporting refugees and asylum seekers. Comparable as a Cardiff-based, Wales-only advocacy and support charity and a fellow WARJ alliance member.
- Show Racism the Red Card: UK anti-racism educational charity that uses sport to deliver anti-racism workshops in schools — a near-direct functional overlap with REF's free school workshops and annual anti-racism school competition. WARJ alliance member.
- EYST (Ethnic Youth Support Team): Wales-wide charity supporting BAME young people through mentoring, training, and advocacy. Comparable as a regional minority-ethnic support charity and a WARJ alliance member.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Race Equality First social profiles
Digital presenceRace Equality First compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Race Equality First financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Race Equality First leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Race Equality First funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Race Equality First M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Race Equality First
What does Race Equality First do?
Race Equality First is a Wales-based charity that supports Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities through hate crime support, discrimination casework, advocacy, and equality training. The organization provides direct assistance to individuals facing racial discrimination while also delivering training programs to employers and public bodies to promote racial equality across Wales.
Is Race Equality First a public or private company?
Race Equality First is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Race Equality First founded?
Race Equality First was founded in 1976. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Race Equality First based?
Race Equality First is headquartered in Cardiff, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Race Equality First make money?
One revenue line is on record: charitable Donations & Grants.
Who are Race Equality First's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Citizens UK and Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Direct peers are Kick It Out, Runnymede Trust, Hope Not Hate, Stop Hate UK, Race Council Cymru, Welsh Refugee Council, Show Racism the Red Card and EYST (Ethnic Youth Support Team).
Does Race Equality First have an API?
No public API is recorded for Race Equality First.
What industry is Race Equality First in?
Race Equality First's product category is Non-profit Racial Equality Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAC, Racial & Ethnic Justice Organizations, with a secondary code of BPAGABAN, Human Rights, Social Inclusion & Disability Inclusion. Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 8300.