October is Black History Month in the UK and staff across the Trust will be celebrating the occasion with a host of different activities. Black History Month has been recognised for many years with a month-long programme of inspirational events and workshops - honouring the achievements, culture, and rich history of Black people. 

At NELFT, our commitment to inclusion and equality lasts a lot longer than four weeks each year. NELFT is recognised nationally as one of the leading NHS organisations for supporting the BME agenda and we are a Trust where diversity is celebrated. 

Cathrine Lund, head of serious incidents and co-chair of the Ethnic Minority Network, said: “For me, Black History month is a time for rejoicing, celebrating and thanking all those who went before us and have given us hope in a better tomorrow. It is important that we reflect on our history and the struggle to get to where we are today, but, while I acknowledge that many painful and uncomfortable lessons have been learnt, there is still so much more to uncover. 

“What I do know is that we have a history that shows us integrity, leadership and determination. The values of those long gone, now motivate us to also leave a legacy that future generations can be proud of.” 

Although this year staff aren’t able to celebrate in the usual way, due to social distancing guidelines, there are a number of ways in which staff can still get involved. 

A number of virtual events will take place throughout the month, beginning with an All Staff Webinar celebrating Black History Month, with speakers including Harjit Bansal, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, as well as Sam Illaiee, head of children’s targeted services Waltham Forest, and Ethnic Minority Network (EMN) ambassador.  

See the below poster for details of all the events happening throughout the month and how to get involved.

Follow NELFT on social media to see highlights from the month’s celebrations. Find us on Twitter @NELFT; on Facebook @NHSNELFT; or Instagram @NELFT_NHS.