B E A N A L LY, N O T A B Y S TA N D E R
Speaking Out When It Matters Most What does it really mean to be an ally in education? For me, allyship is a daily practice. It’s about showing up, speaking up and speaking out when it matters most, especially when others stay silent. I wrote Be an Ally, Not a Bystander to challenge all forms of prejudice, discrimination and bullying in our school systems and to offer a practical, relational approach to change. The book is rooted in lived experience. Sadly, I’ve seen how systems can fail our most vulnerable children and young people, especially those from marginalised groups. I’ve also seen how relationships can repair what those systems break. The book is set out in an accessible, easy-to-read format, containing everything needed for individual reflection, small group discussion and whole-school development. Each chapter offers tools for reflection and action. I speak directly to educators, leaders and anyone working with children and young people. I share stories, frameworks and strategies that centre the child, address bias and challenge the deep-rooted inequalities in our education system. The whole point is to provoke change.
The title is intentional. Being a bystander is easier than being an ally. Being an advocate, however, takes even more courage; it means disrupting harm, not just noticing it. It means listening deeply, acting consistently and being accountable. It means asking: “What am I doing to make this space safer and more inclusive?” Being an advocate takes it one step further, using your voice and position to amplify others and push for systemic change. I’m proud that Be an Ally, Not a Bystander has resonated not just with educators, but with parents and carers too. It’s been used in training, allyship coaching and curriculum development, particularly around global citizenship. It’s part of a broader movement that includes my
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consultancy, Inclusion HT, and the charity I’m building: BAANAB Community Collective, aiming to work together towards childcentred system change rooted in kindness, equity, hope and care. If you’re reading this and wondering where to start, start with your children and young people; start with the ones who are most marginalised; start with the ones who remind you why you chose this work. Then ask yourself: “Am I being an ally, or a bystander?” Even better: “How am I being an advocate? Am I showing up, speaking out and being part of the change we need to see?” FRANCES AKINDE Author www.linktr.ee/francesakinde