This year’s Black History Month brought together colleagues from across our trust and the wider Sussex system to celebrate the theme “Standing Firm in Power and Pride”.
Junior Smart OBE, Black History Month Conference speaker
Our system-wide Black History Month Conference, hosted at Conquest Hospital, was attended by colleagues from NHS Sussex and Social Care. Our keynote speaker, Junior Smart OBE (pictured above), founder of the St Giles SOS Project, delivered an inspiring and deeply personal talk on resilience, leadership and the importance of recognising and using our power to create change.
Soumya Sononey, Black History Month Conference speaker
Jayne Black, Chief Executive, said: “The conference was a chance for us all to celebrate the rich history, heritage and incredible achievements of Black people in our communities, and also to reflect on the work still ahead of us to achieve genuine racial equity in healthcare.
“The NHS was built on values like compassion, equality and respect. But we know that inequalities still exist, and they impact both the care our patients receive and the experiences of our colleagues. That’s why events like this matter. They create space to listen, to learn, and to commit to breaking down those barriers.
“Being anti-racist isn’t just about what we say, it’s about what we do. It means weaving equity into every part of our work and driving real, lasting change.”
Alongside the main conference, a series of events throughout October continue the conversation and celebration of diversity. The final event, Spotlight on Stroke, is on Tuesday 28 October, 2.30–3.30pm. The session highlights inequalities in stroke outcomes and access to care, with a focus on improving awareness and early intervention within Black communities.
To book contact: sxicb.ethnicallydiversestaffnetwork@nhs.net
During the conference we also celebrated with the youngest members of our team, as our onsite nurseries took part in a poster competition exploring identity, joy, and belonging — with winners to be announced later this month. The importance of mentorship was also highlighted, with signposting to the resources and opportunities available through our leadership programmes.
Sarah Feather, Workforce Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, said: “Black History Month is an important event in the calendar year and we were delighted to host it for the whole system this year.
“The day was an opportunity to showcase colleagues from our trust and have their voices heard, while encouraging people to keep listening and learning. The learning from each of the speakers is fundamental to how we will work together over the year ahead to strengthen relationships, improve our culture for our multicultural colleagues and help to make the NHS a place where everyone feels safe, valued, and included.”