Colleagues come together at Medway to celebrate Black History Month

A thought-provoking session, joined by Chief Simon Weldon, was hosted by the Inspire Network as Black History Month draws to a close.

The session, opened by Simon, was the brainchild of our Inspire Network Chair, Amjad Nazir which brought together staff voices and guest speakers. They explored Black history and how, together, we can make meaningful progress in reducing inequalities within healthcare.

A number of colleagues share their personal reflections and a powerful keynote presentation by Everett Henry, Senior Consultant at the Medway African and Caribbean Association (MACA).

Everett, who has more than 25 years of experience in equality, diversity and inclusion at a national level, has worked across sectors including policing, the NHS, local government and higher education.

Drawing on his extensive background, including leading reviews into institutional racism and developing EDI strategies for national organisations, Everett spoke on the theme “Building Trust and Better Engagement with the Black and Asian Community.”

He explored how cultural understanding directly impacts patient outcomes, trust, and workforce wellbeing, and discussed the importance of recognising cultural and health contexts within Black and Asian communities, identifying barriers and opportunities for engagement, building sustainable relationships with local communities through visibility and dialogue, and developing a capable and confident workforce that reflects and understands the communities it serves.

Everett also highlighted persistent health inequalities such as higher rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and infant mortality, and how cultural beliefs and lived experiences can influence when and how people seek help.

He challenged colleagues to consider how trust is built through everyday interactions, explaining that “engagement is not just outreach, it’s listening, partnership, and cultural understanding.”

The session is just one of a number of events and activities that have taken place over the month, including an informative podcast series called Voices on the Road and an interesting interview between Simon and Amjad as they delve into Amjad’s lived experiences.