Report highlights the impact of racial trauma on minority ethnic communities

A new report exploring how racial trauma affects people in minority ethnic communities has called for anti-racism and trauma-informed practice to be embedded in all Welsh public services.

The study, entitled Do You See My Trauma?, gathered insights from 147 people across Wales, revealing how racism and cultural misunderstanding have an impact on wellbeing, trust, and access to services such as health, education, and policing.

The report, co-authored by the University of South Wales and EYST (Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team Wales) and commissioned by ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Hub Wales, highlights widespread racial trauma rooted in discrimination, exclusion and everyday racism.

Dr Shehla Khan, Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management and researcher in Business at USW, compiled the report with Selima Bahadur, Race and Policy Team Lead at EYST, supporting the organisation with data analysis and providing expert advice on shaping its findings.

Dr Khan said: “Our research identifies major systemic barriers, including language challenges, cultural misunderstandings and a lack of trauma-informed, culturally competent services. Many public services unintentionally exclude minority ethnic communities because they do not recognise their lived realities.

“The report’s findings call for urgent leadership action, with organisations needing to involve communities in decision-making, improve data and accountability, and create safe environments for all. Our hope is that these personal accounts will be used as evidence to change practice, and encourage more sensitive, inclusive service provision across Wales.

“Gaps in service provision are more than operational failings; they perpetuate harm, deepen mistrust, and deny minority ethnic communities the dignity and equity they deserve. Addressing them will require not only resources and training, but a fundamental shift towards compassion, cultural humility, and active anti-racism at every level of service delivery.

“We would like to thank all the individuals and families who shared their lived realities, so openly and with transparency and honesty. Their stories were, at times, hard to listen to, but every account we heard spurred us on to carry on with this work, reminding us of the importance of eliminating racism from Welsh society.”

To read the report in full, click here.

Image caption (left-right): Amira Assami, Rights to Education worker at EYST; Selima Bahadur, co-author of the report; Dr Shehla Khan; Emma Wools, South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner; Mark Hobrough, Chief Constable of Gwent Polic; and Momena Ali, founder of EYST.