Philanthropist supports Diversity UK Changemakers Programme

Businessman Bharat Vala has become the first philanthropist to pledge support for the Diversity UK Changemakers programme. His generous donation to the equality charity was announced just after a Changemakers Dinner and roundtable discussion hosted by Baroness Prashar at the House of Lords on Thursday 14 November 2024. The event brought together sponsors, partners, and supporters to deliberate on a strategic shift for the charity, which has spent 12 years advocating for race diversity and inclusion in the UK.

Diversity UK’s achievements include publishing the Beyond the Glass Ceiling report, participating in a number of Public Reviews, launching the Asians in Tech initiative, and hosting more than 200 events, including the annual Paul Stephenson Lecture on race equality and two Diversity Tech Summit events. Earlier this year, the charity’s Asians in Tech Impact Report, validated by Cambridge Judge Business School, highlighted its success in helping under-represented founders launch and grow ventures.

A Critical Juncture for Diversity UK

“The year 2025 represents a pivotal moment for Diversity UK,” said Lopa Patel MBE, Chair of Diversity UK. “We have evaluated the impact of our work over the past 12 years, and as we look ahead, it is evident that we must adapt and refine our strategy to meet the needs of the next generation. Our core mission—to educate the public about equality and inclusion—remains unchanged. However, there is a growing demand to support young changemakers from diverse communities, helping them build confidence and grow into civic leaders of tomorrow.

“To address this, we convened a group of our most committed allies to discuss our future plans. It was especially moving that this gathering inspired Bharat Vala to pledge immediate support for the Changemakers programme. His generosity and belief in our ability to deliver are profoundly humbling, and I cannot thank him enough,” she added.

A Shared Tradition of Selfless Service

Bharat Vala shared his motivation for supporting the charity: “I want to ensure the success of Diversity UK in all its endeavours because I have seen first-hand the transformative power of serving others. Both of my daughters have volunteered enthusiastically with the charity, and my elder daughter was even invited to become a Trustee to help shape its strategic direction. Watching them grow in skills and confidence has inspired me to ensure Diversity UK can extend this opportunity to many more young people.”

Encouraging Philanthropy

Ramesh Vala CBE, Deputy Chair of Diversity UK and lead on philanthropy for the charity, acknowledged the challenges faced in recent years: “The past few years have been incredibly tough for the charity. There appears to be a lack of funding for diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, despite the fact that everyone benefits from this work. Change does not occur on its own; it requires effort and action.

“I am thrilled that Bharat Vala has stepped forward with such a generous donation. I am confident that many of our allies will follow suit and would urge them to reach out to me as soon as possible. Together, we can secure our strategic activities for at least the next three years.”

About Diversity UK

Diversity UK is a charity whose mission is to improve equality and inclusion in Britain. We do this by: informing and educating the public about equality and inclusion initiatives, particularly in relation to race diversity; holding public bodies to account about the appointment of ethnic minority individuals to senior positions in the public sector and by promoting greater diversity in the tech sector in Britain. Diversity UK has achieved many successes over the years, including:

● Publishing a flagship ‘Beyond the Glass Ceiling’ Research Report in 2013.
● Participating in 4 Reviews including the McGregor-Smith ‘Race in the Workplace’ Review.
● Establishing the annual Paul Stephenson lecture on race equality.
● Devising and launching the Asians in Tech initiative over the past decade.
● Supporting 160 industry events; organising 38 events; celebrating 14 IWD events & 2 Summits.

Diversity UK is a registered charity (No: 1155189) in England & Wales.