Black Lives Matter: A message from our Board and BAME Staff Network

Posted: 11/06/20

A black square

A message from our Chair of the Board and Non-Executive Director for Equality and Diversity Ken Jarrold CBE, Chief Executive John Lawlor, our Executive Medical Director Rajesh Nadkarni, and our Acting Executive Director of Workforce Lynne Shaw:

Black Lives Matter. We stand together with our black staff, minority ethnic staff, volunteers, service users and our community against racism and hate crime.

We are proud of the diversity of our workforce, who we are here to support. We do not tolerate racism and hate and we will stand together to put an end to racism and promote equality. We will continue to listen and learn from our black and ethnic minority staff.

We are committed to creating a fair and diverse workplace and our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) staff network, established in March 2016, actively engages and contributes towards ensuring equality, acceptance and inclusion in our organisation. Our staff networks provide a safe space for staff to come together to share experiences and receive support. It is a platform for sharing ideas and experiences, building relationships and promoting race equality. We seek to engage with and listen to all of our staff, regardless of their ethnicity, and at this pivotal moment across the globe particularly so with our BAME colleagues.

Rajesh Nadkarni, Executive sponsor of the BAME staff network, said: “We will not tolerate racism and hate crime. Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust is a place where we want all staff to feel safe, protected to and listened to. We are proud of our diverse workforce who make a difference to the lives of the communities we serve, each and every day. We stand with you. We are here for you.”

We are all in this together. We support you and are here for you. Black lives matter.

A statement from our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Staff Network:

“For many of us the recent events of the unlawful killing of George Floyd have sparked anxiety, anger and hurt. These feelings have ignited protests across the world for the Black Lives Matter Movement against the injustices, racism and everyday discriminations faced by BAME people.

Many of us BAME people have experienced racism and discrimination in different walks of our life. The inequalities have only further been magnified by the disproportionate deaths of BAME people during COVID-19 pandemic.

The BAME Network is standing together with our BAME colleagues, patients and communities. We have zero tolerance towards racism, race inequalities, injustices and all forms of discrimination. We will be focusing on amplifying the voices of BAME staff and creating safe spaces for staff to express their lived experiences, supporting them to feel empowered to challenge any racial or systemic discrimination.

We are calling on our white colleagues to ask your BAME colleagues how they are feeling in these challenging times, and consider how you can be supportive to them. We need our white colleagues and allies to step into this space with us, if a lasting positive change is to be made.”

The BAME network has regular monthly meetings, and for any more information about the Network please contact:

Christopher Rowlands
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead

Christine Ntanda
Co-Chair, BAME Network

Edith Russell
Chair, BAME Network

Dr Rajesh Nadkarni
Medical Director/Executive Lead for BAME Network

We can be contacted via the Network email: [email protected]