Celebrating Black History Month
October is Black History Month! Black History Month honours the achievements, culture and history of Black people.
At the KeepingWell NCL Hub we recognise that our Black colleagues still face barriers to equal rights and opportunities and that unfortunately this contributes to negative experiences in and out of the workplace which can impact on staff’s wellbeing. The theme for BHM 2022 is ‘Time for change: action not words’ which encourages true allyship to tackle racism. This means moving beyond short-term or performative gestures and taking real, long-term action which is something we feel passionately about at The Hub. We strive to continuously explore and understand the wellbeing needs of Black staff working in health and social care staff within NCL, and to think about the specific barriers Black staff are faced with regarding accessing wellbeing support services. If you have thoughts on this issue that you would like to share with us or if you are interested in working collaboratively with us, please email keepingwell.ncl@nhs.net. We would love to hear from you!
To read more about this year’s theme on the blackhistorymonth.org website click here.
KeepingWell NCL Hub is committed to advocating for a more equal society where everyone, regardless of their identity or background, can realise their potential and enjoy a safe and nurturing working environment. We believe that it is essential to address discrimination and disparity all year round. We aim to do this through offering
- Intercultural 1-1 support
- Reflective groups for racially minoritised staff
- Intercultural workshops
- Wellbeing resources specific to Black and Ethnic Minority staff
Find out more below.
- KeepingWell NCL is available to support staff members who feel they would benefit from a supportive space. Find out more about our individual treatment and support offer here.
- We are working in collaboration with Nafsiyat Intercultural Therapy Centre to provide Reflective Sessions. Reflective sessions are designed to provide safe and confidential spaces for racially minoritised staff members to process and reflect on work, and organisational issues. Participants will engage with facilitators and peers to explore shared issues, gain support, and to work towards an equitable experience in their organisations. To read more about these sessions and to sign up click here.
- We are working in collaboration with Nafsiyat Intercultural Therapy Centre to provide Intercultural Awareness Workshops. These are half-day, online workshops supporting staff to promote intercultural awareness in health and social care organisations. Find out more and register.
- For managers who are seeking to support their staff, our Wellbeing Conversations page contains guidance on having or starting conversations with staff about their wellbeing.
Uncomfortable Conversations: About Race (Podcast)
In this podcast to mark Black History month, listen in on Keeping Well NCL Hub colleagues’ Ola Ajala (Black Nigerian born, British mental health nurse and family therapist) and Jocelyn Blumberg’s (White South African born, Clinical Psychologist) conversation about race, privilege, Black History Month and why uncomfortable conversations are important for growth. To listen to this podcast click here.
‘You Called and We Came: Remembering Nurses of the Windrush Generation’
This article looks at the contribution of Black colleagues to the NHS and social care. African Caribbean nurses arrived en masse to Britain, alongside other workers with the arrival of the HMS Windrush and other ships from July 1948 – and have been major contributors to the British NHS and social care sector ever since. To read the full article on the Black History Month website click here.
The North Central London Staff Diversity and Inclusion Book & Film Club
As part of this club, a book and film are discussed each month and the facilitator then disseminates a summary of what was discussed. This is an opportunity for staff to meet regularly connect over and discuss works and ideas with diversity and inclusion at their centre. To find out more and to join click here.
Black History Month webinar: Racism, stigma and fear: Barriers to accessing mental health
Watch our webinar where we discuss the existence of multicultural Britain over the centuries and how it lay hidden and barely visible before our modern age, due to injustices and racism towards communities deemed ‘foreign’ and / or ‘other.’ Click here to watch this webinar.
Heather Chambers – Growing Up Black Podcast
Heather Chambers is an Assistant Psychologist working in the Camden MOSAIC CAMHS’s team for children with disabilities. Heather shares her powerful poem and an accompanying commentary to frame the poem that asks important questions about how all of us can actively do, say, and think things differently when racism is active – our own, or someone else’s. To listen to this podcast click here.
