This week is Race Equality Week, which is an annual UK-wide movement uniting thousands of organisations to address the barriers to race equality in the workplace.

To recognise this week, we caught up with different members of our Race Equality Network (REN) which is a one of the trust’s staff networks that aims to to provide a collective voice on behalf of staff from different racial backgrounds, and help improve the experience of staff and patients in relation to racial equality.

They have shared their thoughts about the week and have given a powerful reminder of the importance of fostering diversity, inclusion, and equality at NWAS and beyond.

Today’s blog is from Dean Solanki, Infection Prevention and Control team manager and a member of our Race Equality Network (REN), who explains why raising awareness of this week helps combat racial inequalities.

“I would like to talk about Race Equality Week which is recognised by organisations across the UK to help foster a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment.

“For me raising awareness this week is paramount as it can help combat discrimination and biases that may exist within organisational structures as well as microaggressions, which can sometimes go unreported. By promoting race equality, we can attract and retain a diverse talent pool, enhance morale and ensure fair treatment and opportunities for all colleagues.

“The theme for this year is #ListenActChange and I believe we are doing just this.  We recently launched our reverse mentorship programme which sees senior members of Team NWAS shadow and meet with members of our REN. This initiative is helping staff within our REN to develop trust with senior leaders, encouraging communication and providing a channel to feedback personal experiences. It also helping members of the REN learn more about the role of senior leadership which will hopefully inspire different colleagues to become leaders in the future.

“Race equality is all about ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their race or ethnicity have access to the same opportunities. Education, awareness, and proactive measures are crucial in overcoming these struggles and fostering true racial equality in the workplace.  As a network, we will continue to listen, act and try to make effective change, and work towards creating an environment where everyone can thrive.”