No More Tick Boxes informs readers that non-white NHS staff are routinely discriminated against because of Britain’s ‘history as an Imperial power’.
It advises NHS mentors to check their behaviour so that they are not guilty of ‘micro-aggressions’.
And NHS East of England recommends managers read another guide that tells white public sector administrators they only got their jobs ‘because of the colour of your skin’.
NHS chiefs declined to say how much No More Tick Boxes cost, and stood by both guides’ inclusion on a reading list for managers.
‘White fragility is the flip side of a sense of entitlement developed over many years.’
The idea â coined by a white American woman, former education professor Robin DiAngelo â is controversial. Fellow academics argue that it is a racist stereotype that lumps white people together as ‘oppressors’ who suffer the same psychological flaw, as well as being used to shut down debate.
The guide states that black and minority ethnic (BME) NHS staff suffer because of Britain’s colonial past: ‘Whilst the proportion of White people who are overtly racist is a minority, assumptions about inferiority which undermine the employment and well-being of BME staff are widespread and deeply ingrained through our history as an Imperial power.’
Former Arsenal Womenâs football legend and now BBC presenter Alex Scott has received criticism from an ex-minister of her pronunciations whilst hosting the Tokyo Olympic. Alex Scott responded by underlining her pride in her roots and rebuked complaints based on her lack of elocution lessons.
Dear heavenly Father, what a wonderful name is the name of Jesus and it is in His name that I pray for healing for this athlete today. You designed their body from the top of the head down to the tips of their toes. I pray for encouragement to help them get through â however long it takes to deal with this injury. Please send encouragement from the physiotherapists and mental health practitioners, and send, through this prayer, a miracle of your healing touch either by the medical care offered or supernaturally. Thank you for your wonderful working power and loving compassion you give to this athlete today. Amen.
Before travelling to Italy #AndyMurray described the series of injury setbacks he has suffered since his hip resurfacing surgery in 2019 as âhard to takeâ. It is not clear what is behind the latest setback.
Naomi Osaka Withdraws From French Open 2021 For Opponentsâ Mental Health #RolandGarros
Talked to mental health experts about how Naomi Osaka's candor on facing anxiety & depression could help change tennis & other elite sports for the better. Latest @Newsypic.twitter.com/Q95LsN3Ubp
BREAKING: A statement tonight from Prince William expressing his anger about the deceit uncovered at the BBC in the Lord Dyson report into Princess Dianaâs #Panorama interview pic.twitter.com/uU6K8ZIS0W
Heavenly Father, I pray in the name Jesus Christ who reached out to the woman at the well from the outcast village of Samaria. You, Jesus, saw no barriers and gave light to the blind and freedom to those in prison. Help us to break down the barriers in our community. Help us to see the reality of racism and ignorance, and free us to challenge and uproot it from ourselves, our society, and our world.
The COVID-19 pandemic has left many people around the world unable to be with a loved one when they die, or unable to mourn someoneâs death in-person with friends and family. There are other types of loss including unemployment, not making enough money, loss or reduction in support services, and other changes in your lifestyle. These losses can happen at the same time, which only complicates or prolong grief. This prolonging delays a personâs ability to adapt, heal, and recover.
In the unlikely event that you are ever a victim of, or a witness to, a knife attack there are some practical steps you can take to make sure that you and those around you stay as safe as possible. While it would be perfectly natural to panic when someone has just been harmed, time is important. Street Doctors have this vital advice to follow immediately if you ever experience or witness a stabbing:
1. Keep yourself safe By safe, means out of harm’s way. If there is an active argument or crime scene and it’s not safe to stay with someone who’s been hurt, get to a place of safety such as a shop, cafe, restaurant, gym, youth centre or police, ambulance or fire station. Go to where there are adults or members of the public. When you’re safe, call for help by dialing 999. Ask for an ambulance.
Apply pressure to the wound First check there is no sharp object in the wound. If there is no sharp object present you can apply pressure directly to the wound. If you have something to wrap around your own hands, such as clothing or a scarf, etc. you can use that. If a sharp object is present DO NOT remove it. If you can do so without hurting yourself, you can apply pressure by placing your hands to the sides of the object on the personâs body, and pushing down. Keep your hands a safe distance from the sharp object. Applying pressure might cause discomfort, but the more pressure you apply, the greater your chance of helping a blood clot to form and preventing further loss of blood.
3.Keep calm We know that this would be a really stressful situation but if you can, be as calm as possible and stay on the phone with the ambulance staff. They can offer you real-time help.
4.Emergency first aid If the person is not breathing, perform chest compressions by placing your hands on top of each other and pushing down in the centre of their chest (aim for 30 compressions at a rate of 100 compressions per minute). If you’re unsure what to do inform the ambulance staff on the phone will help you.
The Heritage Fund has seen, in 2020, an increased focus and discussion on issues that particularly affect black people and communities across the UK. From the emotive and significant Black Lives Matter movement, to the disproportionately adverse effects of coronavirus (COVID-19). Corporate Management are discussing these issues and are trying to find solutions or seek advice, because the impact on the mental health and well-being of black leaders and their colleagues can sometimes be overlooked.
My story: During the pandemic I worked for a backroom NHS organisation commissioning services for staff and patients in England. I work from home on an administrative/front-of house basis (through-out the day I receive most the of calls, give out information, log the calls on a spreadsheet for analysing purposes).
It was in 2014 when I obtained a BA Hons degree studying various leadership and management styles within not-for-profit organisations. During that time I started badgering the communications “comms” team about opportunities to “move up” from my current position. I did not want to pay for another degree i.e. Masters degree, so I approached the communications manager again and it was then she introduced me to the Chartered Institute for Public Relations (CIPR) in order for me to gain professional recognition as well hear from professionals whose specialism is within all aspects of society. However, it was a Financial Director at work who realised I was a disgruntled BAME employee and advised me to further my online platform called Healing Relations PR and consider becoming its “Director”; allowing me to move away from a ministry to a business working alongside other businesses.
Some of the projects and campaigns I have worked alongside are: *S.A.Y. (serious about youth) the Conference – (campaigning for longer jail term sentences for groomers and for those who fatally wound a young person).
*The NHS England Stop Smoking Awareness campaign.
*Issues in sport including racism and bullying (working alongside Sports Chaplaincy UK)
*Supporting my neighbourhood against anti-social behaviour
I attended senior school (Comprehensive) during the 1970’s to early 1980’s. Many conversations at school-reunions constantly feedback the same message “our school let us down”, and Faith school students are also saying the same thing.
At school I also obtained attainment/pass certificates in for example Religious Studies and Social Ethics. In the long term those studies were not relevant when applying for jobs – unless I wanted to enter a vocation like social work. There were, to my happiness, theater studies and sports activities which I was encouraged to partake in because it was part of my school’s curriculum. When I attended drama classes (where I gained a O/A level pass) plus netball tournaments and tennis matches, Head of School would only exclaim that outside activities were a “distraction” and affecting my other exams; especially Mathematics and biology (so that I could get a job in a bank or as a nurse). Distractions also included my Duke of Edinburgh awards (in Gymnastics).
That is why I aimed to salvage a BA Hons degree and other Higher Education qualifications as a mature student â of course it would have been ideal to have gained an apprenticeship when I left school. However, I always felt a sense of disapproval at interviews. Should I blame my school for my disillusionment?
Campaign groups like âNo More Faith School .org ukâ are asking for public funding towards religious groups in order for them to evangelize to children who are disillusioned when they leave school having completed their time as Lower 6 or Upper 6 students.
It seems, according to reports, that Faith schools are having a “negative impact on social cohesion, foster segregation of children on social, ethnic and religious lines, and undermine choice and equality” (No-more-faithschools.org). In other words, the report is saying if you attended a faith school it does not look good on your CV to the âoutside worldâ. The anti report goes on to say that, âchildren living in England deserve the best – the law expects schools to demonstrate that they are encouraging pupils to take a respectful and tolerant stance towards those who hold values different from their own. Ofsted acts robustly and impartially to ensure all children in England receive a good education.â
Following on from ongoing claims of sexual exploitation within schools – leaders “have not ensured that safeguarding procedures have been sufficiently robust to keep pupils safe at all times,” inspectors found. Also, schoolâs leaders have not ensured that all staff employed at the school has routinely undergone the necessary vetting checks, which compromises pupilsâ welfare.â (Secularism.org.uk 2019).
The charity Child Net insists that the importance of Faith Schools lies in it being able to opt-out of teaching subjects contrary to their religious beliefs, such as information on homosexuality and contraception. The compulsory parts of sex and relationship education from Year 7 (primary school) teach children about reproduction, sexuality and sexual health – including decisions around abortion.
Campaigners insist that pupils from faith schools fail to develop their own beliefs independently. I have no qualms with that. My argument is to support their pupils with after care, especially those who like religious studies, social ethics, theatre, and… Physical- Sciences or in my era it was called P.E. (physical education).
Today, senior leaders preclude the teaching of certain protected characteristics of students leaving school could be defined in the Equality Act. According to the Equality Act 2010, protected characteristics are aspects of a personâs identity that make them who they are. Itâs worth noting, while this legislation doesnât offer protection for revealing protected characteristic e.g. religious beliefs. Moreover, itâs unlawful to treat an employee or apprentice differently if they reveal they attended a Faith school â alas, it still happens.
Jennifer (2nd right) at school with her successful team mates as Essex champions.
