Black History Month 2021
Black History Month 2021
Black History Month (BHM) is an annual celebration of the contribution that Black African and Caribbean communities have made both locally and across the world. People of African and African-Caribbean heritage make an invaluable contribution to our life in the UK all year round, and BHM gives us a focus for celebration, learning and reflection.
The NHS is the biggest employer of people from diverse backgrounds in Europe. The significant contribution of Black people in communities right across the UK in our NHS and schools, small business, arts, academia, sports, volunteering help make Britain to be the strong and diverse country we are today. For 2021 we celebrated BHM with a number of events, which can be watched back below.
- Webinar one – Actions and interventions that better support and improve the lives of Black colleagues
- Webinar two – Leadership that makes a difference
- Webinar three – Lived experience of Black colleagues and the Impact of Allyship
- Webinar four – Midlands Black History Month Conference 2021
Webinar one – Actions and interventions that better support and improve the lives of Black colleagues
At this webinar we heard from colleagues working as middle managers / in frontline services and what difference they have made in challenging racism and discrimination, highlighting what actions and interventions they have implemented in supporting and improving the health and wellbeing of colleagues. Watch using the links below.
Introduction from Jennifer Pearson, Lead Nurse Shared Governance / Regional Lead (Midlands) Chief Nursing Officer’s Black and Minority Ethnic Strategic Advisory Group
Derek Jones, NHS Volunteer
Tom Warner, Nurse Equalities Manager at NHS England and NHS Improvement – Midlands
Dr Tansy Warrilow, Clinical Psychologist at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Q&A session
Webinar two – Leadership that makes a difference
The burden for tackling racism must not be on Black people. Too often we have seen that racism is an issue for those being abused to solve. This is wrong. At this webinar we heard from Executive Leaders on how they have used their leadership to support Black staff to drive improvements on racial justice. Watch using the links below.
Introduction and Welcome
Lisa Stally Green, Executive Chief Nurse at University Hospital of Birmingham
Steve Morrison, Regional Director of Workforce and OD at NHS England and NHS Improvement – Midlands
Anne-Maria Newham MBE, Director of Nursing, AHP and Quality at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Q&A session
Webinar three – Lived experience of Black colleagues and the Impact of Allyship
At this webinar we heard from Black colleagues who have been active in educating their white colleagues and developing allyship. They will share the impact of their lived experience of working with an ally, as well how their journey has helped tackle issues of racism by educating allies in having difficult conversations about race. Watch using the links below.
Introductions
Olga Leach-Walters, WRES Expert Endoscopy (Equality and Diversity Link Nurse), Chair of the Midlands and East WRES Experts Group
Tracey Gardner, Practice Manager at Small Heath Medical Practice in Birmingham
Lenea Nyamafeka, Equality and Inclusion Compliance Manager at Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust / Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) Expert
Q&A session
Webinar four – Midlands Black History Month Conference 2021
Our 2021 Black History Month event celebrated, empowered and embraced the talents of Black colleagues in health and social care across the Midlands Region. Hear the voices and experiences of these colleagues, and senior allies, using the links below.
What is Black History Month and why is it celebrated
Overview voiced by Paul Newell, Finance Manager at NHS England and NHS Improvement (Midlands) and regional Chair of the black, Asian and minority ethnic staff network
Personal life story
Introduction to the guest speakers from Rachel Blunt, Assistant Director of Programmes for EDI/OD and Digital Transformation at NHS England and NHS Improvement (Midlands)
Dr Sonali Kinra, Clinical Associate in the Primary Care Team at NHS England and NHS Improvement
Dr Aftab Ari, GP at Hall Green Health in Birmingham
Dr Onyinye Okonkwo, GP Senior Partner at Wand Medical Centre in Birmingham
Tracey Gardner, Practice Manager at Small Heath Medical Practice in Birmingham, and manager for the Birmingham and Solihull EDI Network
Q&A with the four guest speakers
A Dark Mind film
Dami Adeyeye, Film Producer
Q&A with Dami Adeyeye
Allyship
Poem by Phillip Masuwa, Senior Primary Care Programme Lead at Midlands Leadership and Lifelong Learning
Yvonne Coghill CBE, Director Excellence in Action
Leading change within the NHS for race equality
Clenton Farquharson MBE, Ambassador for NHS Assembly and Disability Rights UK
My Leadership Journey
Michael Johnson, former footballer and England U21 Manager
A view from our Regional Leadership Team and Senior Managers
Ian Hall, Director of System Improvement at NHS England and NHS Improvement (Midlands)
Eddie Olla, Director of Digital Transformation at NHS England and NHS Improvement (Midlands)
Kuvy Seenan, Regional Head of Equality and Inclusion at NHS England and NHS Improvement (Midlands)
Closing remarks
Clare Price-Dowd, Head of Leadership and Lifelong Learning – Midlands Leadership and Lifelong Learning.
Jesse Lebby, Senior Project Manager – Professional Standards at NHS England and NHS Improvement, and previously Chair of their black, Asian and minority ethnic staff network