South Asian Heritage Month launch
Team BCHC kicked off South Asian Heritage Month in style with a celebration event at Moseley Hall Hospital.
The theme this year is unity in diversity, inviting us to explore our shared values, intertwined histories, and a common commitment to community and belonging, while celebrating the beauty and strength that diversity brings.
Among a wide range of activities offered by BCHC staff and guests were a Sampad Arts dance workshop; jewellery-making; a guide to meditation; expert style guidance on how to wear a sari; and traditional mhendi hand decoration.
T ips on making tasty South Asian 'street food' were served up, alongside classic hot snacks such as pakoras, bhajis and spring rolls.
Celebrating the national theme of unity in diversity, the event, led by the Trust's Culturally Diverse Staff Network, also included an update on the Trust's anti-racism campaign from director of equality Shahzad Choudry. And there was an insight into the innovative work of Community Connexions to promote health equity across all the communities we serve.
Delicate Mind director Nikhwat Khan Marawat gave a presentation on mental health in the South Asian community and there were speeches from individual colleagues on their personal experiences of working at BCHC.
The event was opened by chief of nursing and therapies Lorraine Galligan and concluded with remarks by chief executive Richard Kirby, who paid tribute to everyone who had played a part in a successful day.
He said: “One of the great strengths of Team BCHC is our diversity; and so occasions such as South Asian Heritage Month are a great opportunity to come together, celebrate and share that.
“The theme this year is 'unity in diversity' and that feels very fitting - there is real value in recognising and celebrating difference and drawing on the full benefit of that cultural richness in the way we work and the way we treat each other as colleagues.
“We know that we have more work to do in our ambition to become a truly Great Place to Work and our ongoing anti-racism programme is a core part of that agenda. So, in celebrating and showcasing inclusivity and diversity, it's right that some of those more serious themes are reflected too.”
