Marking legacy: BME Staff Network’s George Floyd & Africa Day event
At South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, our commitment to equity, inclusion, and anti-racism was powerfully reflected at our recent event, where staff gathered to commemorate George Floyd Day and Africa Day. The event created space for critical conversations - from reflecting on progress since George Floyd’s murder to discussing the impact of Emotional Emancipation Circles (EECs) in supporting healing, empowerment and belonging.
Importantly, this internal work connects directly to our wider commitment to improving care, particularly through the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) and our ongoing efforts to improve the experiences of Black people who use our services. Together, these events and initiatives are helping shape a culture where every voice is heard, and meaningful change takes root.
EDI Lead and Deputy Chair of our BME Staff Network, Simone Myers, shares her reflections on the event:
George Floyd Day: reflecting on progress and continuing the journey
This year marked the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder - a watershed moment that sparked global calls for racial justice and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Simone spoke about the progress made and the challenges that persist: “We’re still facing many of the same adversities. How can we make things better?” The answer, she says, lies in continued dialogue and collective action. Simone urged every member of staff to get involved and help shape a truly anti-racism Trust.
Employment Specialist and member of the BME Staff Network, Valleri Foster, shares why coming together at events like these matter:
Africa Day: celebrating resilience, unity and belonging
Simone also spoke about the significance of Africa Day, which commemorates the founding of the African Union and celebrates the achievements of African communities. She reminded attendees that the vision for our Trust mirrors this spirit - a vision of belonging, unity and solidarity, where everyone is welcome, valued, and able to thrive as part of an inclusive community.
The celebration was enriched with the sharing of West African snacks like puff puff and chin chin, fostering a sense of togetherness and cultural appreciation.
Allyship and shared responsibility
Allyship was one of the key discussion points, with staff discussing what it means to be an ally in the workplace. Restorative Justice Practitioner, Fin Swanepoel, shared “allyship is for all staff”. Fin weaves restorative justice principles into his approach to being an ally, emphasising dialogue, accountability, shared responsibility, relationship building and community. Allyship is a call to action: everybody has a responsibility to actively challenge discrimination, in all forms.
Fin shares his experience of actively working to learn, unlearn and support anti-racism efforts here:
Emotional Emancipation Circles: a space for healing and empowerment
Deputy Lead in Staff Support, Rawle Ragoobar, shared an important initiative taking place at our Trust - Emotional Emancipation Circles (EECs). EECs are psycho-educational wellbeing spaces designed to foster healing, empowerment and community for Black staff at the Trust. Since the first group in 2022, over 100 staff have attended.
Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with words like “inspiring", “nourishing”, “healing” and “empowering” capturing the essence of these circles. EECs offer a space where staff can reflect on the impacts of racism, and shift the focus towards empowerment, resilience and collective power.
The cumulative impact of racism on mental health is well-documented: research shows that repeated experiences of discrimination can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, depression and trauma, while also creating barriers to accessing mental health support. Read more here. EECs provide a vital opportunity to address and begin to heal from these experiences and find a sense of belonging and connection.
BME Network Membership Officer, Pam Feurtado, who has attended EECs emphasised, “When you don’t feel like you belong, in this space, you do”.
Pam on the significance of EECs:
Despite the success of the EECs, challenges remain. Rawle expressed that protected time to attend EECs is not always honoured, making it difficult for staff to participate consistently. Facilitators - who are staff members themselves - take on this work in addition to their regular duties, making it hard to find facilitators. More support from managers and senior leaders is needed to ensure that this space is valued and not deprioritised.
Looking forward: building on seeds of change
Events like Africa Day and George Floyd Day, together with the ongoing work of the EECs, are catalysts for change. They offer spaces for critical conversations and the building of genuine unity. As we continue our journey towards becoming an anti-racist Trust, the message is clear: everybody is welcome, and everyone has a role to play in creating a culture of belonging, support and justice.
We're building on these seeds of change, nurturing our communities and ensuring that meaningful, equity-driven change takes root and flourishes.
