22/10/2026
“The values Black History Month represents must extend far beyond one month. Challenging exclusion, championing fairness, listening to different perspectives and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and able to belong are responsibilities we share every day.”
Claudette Elliott, our chair, was one of the speakers at a Stories That Shape Us event, with personal reflections on community, belonging and inclusion.
Claudette reflected on growing up in Manchester with her family’s Jamaican roots, before moving to an area where hers was the only Black family, bringing experiences of discrimination and feeling that they didn’t belong.
“These experiences have stayed with me and reinforced my belief that belonging should never depend on who we are, where we come from or how we differ from one another."
“We are not an organisation sitting outside our communities, delivering services to them. We are part of those communities. This is why our ambitions to deliver Outstanding Care, be a Great Place to Work, and Listen to Improve matter so much."
