A day of celebration and discussion kicked off Black History Month today at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals, to promote equality and inclusion.
The event showcased initiatives by the Race Equality and Cultural Heritage (REACH) Network, which draws its membership from different ethnic backgrounds at the Trust.
Highlights included an introduction by REACH network chairs Tracy Cripps and Emil Brown. Last month Emil was crowned a winner in the Cultural Ambassador section of the first ever CUH staff awards.
Head of equality and inclusion at NHS England and Improvement, Harprit Hockley, gave a keynote presentation followed by author, influential HR thinker, and research fellow at Middlesex University Business School, Roger Kline.
We are dedicated to continually improving equality and inclusion
Monica Jacot, CUH equality and diversity lead
CUH awards finalist, Erica Chisanga, spoke about the Trust’s Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) action plan, while CUH award winner, Daison Zinyemba, spoke about the work of the Trust’s cultural ambassadors.
Some staff wore traditional dress, there was a lunch with an international theme, and later there was a chance to hear about the work of Cambridge Global Health Partners and the Tropical Health Education Trust.
A series of CUH events are taking place during Black History Month. This includes a live-streamed “on the sofa” TV-style conversation between Trust chair Dr Mike More, director of workforce, David Wherrett, and Tracy and Emil.
And to mark Diwali on Monday 24 October the Trust, which employs more than 100 different nationalities, will light up its iconic 80 metre (240ft) chimney.
CUH equality and diversity lead, Monica Jacot, said:
“As a Trust dedicated to continually improving equality and inclusion, we are delighted to celebrate Black History Month with events on the campus, and in the community we serve.”