Why This Matters
At EDUK, we understand that equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are not optional extras in public health, they are central to it. A new report by the Runnymede Trust and the Health Foundation makes this clearer than ever: racism is a social determinant of health.
From housing conditions to employment outcomes, people of colour in the UK are living with the health impacts of systemic, institutional and interpersonal racism. These aren’t abstract ideas—they show up in lived experiences, health disparities, and life expectancy data. This report does the work of connecting the dots.
Key Findings
Health inequalities have deep racial roots:
- People of Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Black Caribbean backgrounds experience higher rates of diagnosed ill health than white people.
- Self-reported health outcomes diverge from age 30 and worsen with age for many ethnic groups.
Racism in employment:
- Black and minority ethnic workers are more likely to be unemployed or in insecure, low-paid roles.
- Women of colour are 75% more likely than white women to experience racism at work.
- The ethnicity pay gap remains significant, with Bangladeshi workers earning on average 17.5% less than their white British counterparts.
Racism in housing:
- People of colour are more likely to live in overcrowded, poor-quality housing and have less access to green space.
- Communities of colour are disproportionately affected by homelessness and at risk of community displacement.
Wealth gaps compound disadvantage:
- The median wealth of White British households is ten times higher than that of Black African households.
- Bangladeshi and Black African families are more likely to have less than £1,000 in savings and face persistent financial precarity.
Racism is Stressful And Stress Makes Us Sick
The report also highlights the health toll of racism itself. People of colour experience:
- Higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression.
- Greater exposure to physiological ‘weathering’—the long-term physical effects of living under constant strain.
- Unequal access to healthcare due to discrimination, language barriers, and profiling.
What Needs to Change
This isn’t just a data issue, it’s a justice issue. The report calls for:
- Embedding racial equity in policymaking around employment, wealth, and housing.
- Co-production with communities of colour to develop meaningful solutions.
- Improved data collection to track outcomes and address disparities.
What EDUK Is Doing
We’re committed to anchoring EDI in all we do through our training, advocacy, resources and events. This report strengthens the case for:
- Centring anti-racism in health and social care training.
- Supporting inclusive policies and equitable recruitment across sectors.
- Advocating for lived experience-led decision-making, especially in public health and housing.
Final Word:
Racism doesn’t just live in slurs or headlines, it lives in policies, pay slips, postcodes and pension pots. It’s time for public health approaches that see racism for what it is: a chronic, systemic threat to wellbeing.