by Craig Simpson, Telegraph
Academics argue that rural England should make ‘sustained inclusion efforts’ for ethnic minorities
The British countryside is “overwhelmingly white” and needs more halal food, a report has claimed.
The University of Leicester’s Centre for Hate Studies produced the report, on the issue of “rural racism”.
In it, academics claim that ethnic minority communities face “challenges” in the countryside because rural England is “overwhelmingly white”.
This creates feelings of “discomfort”, the report states, and the “psychological burden” that comes with “navigating predominantly white spaces”.
The report also raises concerns that traditional pub culture and other “monocultural customs” are exclusionary.
It states that the countryside lacks “appropriate facilities to meet religious and cultural needs”, and does not cater for “dietary norms that are rooted in religious or cultural practice”, such as kosher and halal, adding to feelings of exclusion.