Black History Month
We’re celebrating Black History Month (BHM) and embracing the theme this year of Reclaiming Narratives.
Since 1987 BHM has been celebrated in the United Kingdom each October. BHM provides opportunities for people from all of our diverse communities to promote knowledge of Black history, culture and heritage; share positive Black contributions to British society and heighten Black people’s confidence in and awareness of their own cultural heritage. The term ‘Black’ includes anyone who identifies as part of the African diaspora.
Reclaiming Narratives is more than just a theme it’s an invitation to every member of the Black community to take part in shaping how their stories are told. It’s about ensuring that their voices are heard, their experiences acknowledged, and their contributions celebrated.
As part of this, staff from across the organisation have shared their narratives about what Black History Month means to them. You can read them below. More will be added throughout the month.
Ebony, Personal Assistant, shares her story
Ebony Smith, Personal Assistant
“Black history month is important for all it’s a time period of education, for myself it gives me chills to hear the struggles, achievements, progression and beauty black people have gone through. It makes me immensely proud.
“What do I do? I have been with the trust for nearly a year! The time has gone by sooo fast! I feel like I’ve blinked since my introduction in my first week to now being comfortable and confident within my role as a band 4 Personal Assistant. Joining the team through COVID has had its difficulties. Meeting new people via MS teams has seen the dreaded glitches! and slow internet! but I have had great support from the operational managers I support and my line manager. Being a personal assistant is a busy but rewarding job, to know I make a difference and can organise diaries and support with administration duties- easing the pressure from the managers I support makes me proud.
“What are my achievements? I have a few personal achievements that I am really proud of! Thinking professionally- representing the NHS is a massive achievement for me! I hope to shine a light and encourage more non-clinical BME staff into senior administration roles, so we have varied representation”
“Who inspires me? My family inspire me, we are a close family. We support and uplift each other and don’t tend to hold back with our opinions! My mum is my biggest supporter! I would be lost without her!”
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