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The Trust celebrated their annual BAME Staff Network conference on Friday 30 September and the BAME Network will be hosting a webinar on Somali History and Heritage this month.
For the first time since the pandemic, the event was hosted in-person with over 150 colleagues coming together to listen and learn about equality, inclusion and diversity in the NHS. The theme of the event was ‘Celebrating Us.’
Caroline Ogunsola, Lead Nurse hosted and opened the conference with a traditional ‘Buga’ dance, which included many cheerful staff dancing and on their feet. The morning also consisted of a one-minute silence dedicated to our colleagues who lost their lives due to COVID-19.
The event was comprised of a series of speakers that have trail-brazed the BAME agenda within the NHS. Colleagues heard from speakers that included:
A Q&A Session delivered by Chief Nurse, Lorraine Sunduza, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Sponsor for the BAME Network, Edwin Ndlovu and Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Juliana Ansah comprised of an inspiring discussion as they spoke on ELFT’s Trust Equality Agenda and supporting the Trust’s strategy in tackling race inequalities.
During the tea break, Clinical Lead Pharmacist Veena Shivnath performed live traditional Indian singing and dancing.
The afternoon consisted of author and empowerment coach, Chelle Verite and ELFT colleagues, Anita Hynes (FTSU Guardian), Katherine Brittin (Associate Director of Quality Improvement) and Princess Kabba (Head of People Development) delivered breakout sessions provoking insightful and riveting discussion on race, equality and diversity.
Colleagues were further inspired through written pledges on how they were going to celebrate themselves going forward as well as ‘Kindness Hearts’ where each person wrote a kind and uplifting message on a heart. At the end of the conference, members of staff were given a heart at random as a kindness gesture.
As the event ended, colleagues were entertained by the cultural fashion show that saw many colleagues dressed and showing off their traditional clothing.
As part of his closing address, Edwin highlighted his hopes for the future of the BAME Network as he hopes the BAME Network ‘continues to grow, and continues to contribute to shaping the Trust’s strategy and the way we deliver services across the vast communities we serve.’
ELFT’s BAME Network will be hosting their first webinar with a dive into Somali History and Heritage.
This will be held on Friday 7 October from 11:30 to 13:30.
