We are a country and NHS built on migration. Over 14 per cent of all NHS doctors, nurses and health care staff are from overseas and 22 per cent of our entire NHS workforce are from a BAME background or heritage.
At RWT, 31 per cent of our Trust workforce is from a Black or Minority Ethnic background or heritage.
The Black History Month campaign, which takes place nationally during the month of October, aims to shine a light on Black history and to increase knowledge of how Black, African and Caribbean colleagues have positively shaped our society.
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Charity funded the Arts and Heritage Group’s inaugural project – the creation and installation of a unique piece of cultural artwork across its hospital and community sites as well as musical performances by black artists from across the city to celebrate and mark the start and end of the campaign.
The project celebrated the rich diversity of the communities we serve and recognised the contributions made by Black, African and Caribbean people, both to the city and to the advancement of healthcare.
In partnership with the Trust’s Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Employee Voice Group and drawing on content from various staff members, the installation references iconic people – including nurse Mary Seacole – traditional artefacts, Caribbean proverbs and a testimonial from the employee voice group.
The aim of the project was to raise awareness within staff groups of the history of the Black, African and Caribbean community and spark conversations in which we ask questions and learn about each other’s culture and heritage. By immersing ourselves in where people came from and what their traditions are, we can increase our cultural sensitivity, absorb new information and view things from different perspectives, enabling personal growth and strong working relationships.
