How to be an ally
The dos and don’ts of allyship
Providing a listening platform for those aspiring to use their personal (lived) experience to drive meaningful change will enable your organisation to make data-driven and inclusive decisions, improving your employees’ workplace experience
What is an ally?
An ally is any person who supports, empowers, or stands up for another person or a group of people. By recognising that although they are not a member of a marginalised group, an ally seeks to better understand the struggle of another’s circumstances, recognises the privilege they receive from society’s patterns of injustice, and takes responsibility for creating change, standing with marginalised groups in the face of intolerance and discrimination. Although the word ‘ally’ can be both a verb and a noun, it isn’t an identity or a label to gain social capital. ‘Ally’ is a ‘doing’ word, and being an ally is fundamentally about action.
Types of allyship
Active allyship
Involves the dynamic and intentional promotion of inclusion, building relationships of trust, support and advocacy for marginalised individuals or groups.
Active allyship
Involves the dynamic and intentional promotion of inclusion, building relationships of trust, support and advocacy for marginalised individuals or groups.
Active allyship
Involves the dynamic and intentional promotion of inclusion, building relationships of trust, support and advocacy for marginalised individuals or groups.
Passive allyship
Support for the cause without speaking up, intervening and acting when necessary.
Passive allyship
Support for the cause without speaking up, intervening and acting when necessary.
Passive allyship
Support for the cause without speaking up, intervening and acting when necessary.
Performative allyship
Sharing knowledge and solidarity with inequity or a cause, without making the long-term and sustained commitment. It can be done to increase one's social capital rather than devotion to a cause.
Performative allyship
Sharing knowledge and solidarity with inequity or a cause, without making the long-term and sustained commitment. It can be done to increase one's social capital rather than devotion to a cause.
Performative allyship
Sharing knowledge and solidarity with inequity or a cause, without making the long-term and sustained commitment. It can be done to increase one's social capital rather than devotion to a cause.
The Dos in allyship
Empathise without centring yourself – it’s not about you
Empathise without centring yourself – it’s not about you
Empathise without centring yourself – it’s not about you
Be aware of the impact your words can have on the community you’re advocating for
Be aware of the impact your words can have on the community you’re advocating for
Be aware of the impact your words can have on the community you’re advocating for
Be open to understanding when you don’t understand
Be open to understanding when you don’t understand
Be open to understanding when you don’t understand
Be open to listening and learning
Be open to listening and learning
Be open to listening and learning
Accept that you will make mistakes and take the opportunity to learn from them
Accept that you will make mistakes and take the opportunity to learn from them
Accept that you will make mistakes and take the opportunity to learn from them
Listen without judgement
Listen without judgement
Listen without judgement
Recognise your own privilege
Recognise your own privilege
Recognise your own privilege
Educate yourself and others on issues relevant to the community you’re advocating with
Educate yourself and others on issues relevant to the community you’re advocating with
Educate yourself and others on issues relevant to the community you’re advocating with
Use their preferred words and language
Use their preferred words and language
Use their preferred words and language
Ask what is needed/wanted and listen to what the community says
Ask what is needed/wanted and listen to what the community says
Ask what is needed/wanted and listen to what the community says
Be aware of your blind spots
Be aware of your blind spots
Be aware of your blind spots
Be aware of the impact you can have
Be aware of the impact you can have
Be aware of the impact you can have
Continually question your allyship. Challenge yourself
Continually question your allyship. Challenge yourself
Continually question your allyship. Challenge yourself
Try to help others become better allies
Try to help others become better allies
Try to help others become better allies
Be aware of the impact you can have
Be aware of the impact you can have
Be aware of the impact you can have
The Don'ts in allyship
Don’t take credit for the labour done before you stepped in
Don’t take credit for the labour done before you stepped in
Don’t take credit for the labour done before you stepped in
Don’t always rely on the community you are advocating with to educate you. Take a proactive approach and educate yourself
Don’t always rely on the community you are advocating with to educate you. Take a proactive approach and educate yourself
Don’t always rely on the community you are advocating with to educate you. Take a proactive approach and educate yourself
Don’t assume that every member of a marginalised group feels oppressed or welcomes allies
Don’t assume that every member of a marginalised group feels oppressed or welcomes allies
Don’t assume that every member of a marginalised group feels oppressed or welcomes allies
Don’t behave as if you know best
Don’t behave as if you know best
Don’t behave as if you know best
Don’t expect recognition, thanks or gratitude
Don’t expect recognition, thanks or gratitude
Don’t expect recognition, thanks or gratitude
While you may be advocating on behalf of a specific individual or group, it is important to ensure that you are not speaking for or over them: advocate with, not for
While you may be advocating on behalf of a specific individual or group, it is important to ensure that you are not speaking for or over them: advocate with, not for
While you may be advocating on behalf of a specific individual or group, it is important to ensure that you are not speaking for or over them: advocate with, not for
Further information & guidance
Amelie Lamont, Guide to Allyship. An open-source starter guide to help you become a more thoughtful and effective ally.
Nova Reid, The Good Ally: A guided anti-racism journey from bystander to changemaker, Harper Collins Publishers, 2021.
Holly Corbett, 6 Ways To Be An Authentic Ally At Work, Forbes, 2022.
Chris Parke, Understanding Allyship: The Shared Pathway to Cultural Change, The HR Director, 2021.
The toolkit:
Inclusive practice
Our toolkit will help you start your journey towards inclusion, developing a respectful and supportive working environment
The toolkit:
Inclusive practice
Our toolkit will help you start your journey towards inclusion, developing a respectful and supportive working environment
The toolkit:
Inclusive practice
Our toolkit will help you start your journey towards inclusion, developing a respectful and supportive working environment
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© 2025 Halsden Centre Limited. A company registered in England & Wales No 15730726
© 2025 Halsden Centre Limited. A company registered in England & Wales No 15730726
© 2025 Halsden Centre Limited. A company registered in England & Wales No 15730726