Duty of care isn’t a statement; it’s a system
This week, many people watched the BAFTAs and heard a racial slur during the ceremony. It was later explained as an involuntary vocal tic linked to Tourette syndrome, and both BAFTA and the BBC apologised. The BBC also faced justified criticism for not removing the slur from a delayed broadcast (and subsequently editing the recording).
That public moment has sparked loud, polarised debate. But for those of us working in social impact—especially Black leaders, staff, and volunteers, it also highlights something we see all the time:
Harm isn’t only about “bad intent.” Harm is often about weak systems.
And in our sector, weak systems routinely become a pipeline for racialised harm.
Two truths we can hold at once
Tourette syndrome can involve involuntary tics, and a minority of people experience coprolalia, the involuntary outburst of obscene or socially inappropriate words. Most people with Tourette syndrome do not have coprolalia, but it is real.
At the same time:
The impact of racist language is real, even when it wasn’t intended.
And institutions still have responsibilities about what they broadcast, platform, fund, commission, and normalise.
That’s intersectionality in practice: care for disability and seriousness about racist harm, without sacrificing either.
What “duty of care” actually means (and why our sector keeps failing it)
Duty of care isn’t a vibe. It’s not “we’re inclusive.” It’s not a one-off apology.
Duty of care is a set of designed behaviours that answer:
What harms are predictable in this context?
Who is most likely to bear the cost?
What safeguards prevent harm?
What happens when harm occurs—how do we repair and prevent recurrence?
In the BAFTAs case, part of the public anger is simple: there was a delay, yet the harmful audio still went out.
In social impact, the equivalent is when institutions “don’t mean harm” but still:
add last-minute conditions that disproportionately land on Black-led organisations
commission anti-racism work while undermining (or disrespecting) the people delivering it
dismiss microaggressions as “miscommunication”
protect reputations before protecting people
That’s not an “oops.” That’s a duty-of-care gap.
A Duty of Care Checklist for social-impact leaders, funders, and partners
Here’s a simple system your organisation can adopt, especially if you work with Black leaders/communities, or commission EDI/anti-racism work.
1) Prevention
Name predictable risks upfront (racism, ableism, reputational panic, online pile-ons).
Set standards in writing: what’s unacceptable, what happens if it occurs.
No moving goalposts: changes to requirements trigger a formal review of time, cost, and feasibility.
2) Protection during the work
One accountable decision-maker (not “everyone owns it” which becomes “no one owns it”).
Respect is operational: timelines honoured, meetings run well, no credibility tests, no tone policing.
Don’t isolate the harmed person: build support in, don’t make them carry it alone.
3) Repair when harm happens
Acknowledge impact clearly (not vague statements that centre the institution’s discomfort).
Address the harmed parties directly, not just the “general public.”
Make a prevention change (policy/process/training/decision rights) and share what changed.
4) Proof
Track patterns: complaints, scope creep, payment delays, “extra hoops.”
Publish what you measure (even internally): if you don’t track it, you won’t change it.
A note to Black leaders, staff, and volunteers in our community
If you’ve been on the receiving end of the “good sector” doing harm: quietly, politely, professionally, here’s your reminder.
You don’t need to earn safety by being perfect.
Your instincts are data. Your exhaustion makes sense. And you deserve systems that reduce harm, not systems that explain it away.
At Do it Now Now, we exist to expand access and opportunity for Black communities and to support Black-led social impact, because the mainstream system too often doesn’t.
Call to action
If you lead an organisation: pick one duty-of-care change you’ll implement this month (no moving goalposts, clear repair steps, proper commissioning standards) and make it real.
If you’re navigating harm: share this post with one person you trust, and agree one “non-negotiable” you’ll hold in your next partnership or funding conversation.
