NELFT has been nominated for this year's National B.A.M.E Health & Care Awards for the Global Majority Network LEAP programme. 

The National B.A.M.E. Health & Care Awards were launched in 2019 by a group of passionate volunteers from the health and care sector, in collaboration with Colourful Healthcare CIC, to champion the importance of recognising talent from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds in the sector. 

It's estimated that 10.6% of children and family social workers, one in five nurses, more than one in three doctors and one in six of all NHS staff are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. In spite of this, B.A.M.E. staff are seriously under-represented in senior roles, and a large proportion of these staff experience discrimination in their career in health care services.

The awards are open to any UK health or care service in the statutory, voluntary or private sectors. Crucially, services can only be nominated by a current employee or a staff team — and this is what's happened with NELFT's nomination. Ramiz Mungroo, one of the LEAP Graduates in Waltham Forest, nominated the programme for the Outstanding Corporate Achievement of the Year category.

In his application, Ramiz emphasised that he considered this leadership programme, targeted at global majority networks, was critical in developing and empowering him, as well as giving him the tools and frameworks to develop in his role and his career.

Ramiz said:

"I nominated the programme because I am deeply committed to equality and fairness in staffing opportunities. It is a significant achievement to be shortlisted but also a testament to NELFT, which has recognised the importance of leader representation within the Trust and is actively working to cultivate a diverse leadership team. This, in turn, helps shape an NHS that truly reflects the communities we serve. Other trusts should look to LEAP as a template and develop their own programmes to ensure B.A.M.E staff have the same opportunities."

The network delivered its fourth Cohort this year for the LEAP programme, with 80 staff members graduating. The programme not only supports colleagues to move up their career path, but also retention of global majority colleagues in leadership roles.  

Programme leads Cathrine Lund, Harjit K Bansal and Stephen Singh Khakhian are proud that LEAP has been nominated in the Outstanding Corporate Achievement of the Year category.