#BeSeenBeHeardBeRecognised has been the call to action for shining a light on the work of the International Nursing and Midwifery Associations (INMAs).
As part of this we were delighted to recently host an event to celebrate the work of the INMAs and share the impact of the recently concluded third, and final, round of small grants, administered by Florence Nightingale Foundation, funded by NHS England. The small grants programme aimed to advance the pastoral support, health and wellbeing and professional support of internationally recruited nurses and midwives in England; enhance the leadership and project management skills of the INMA leaders; and support emerging INMAs to establish their associations and work on their sustainability.
Catch the vision and make it happen
Angela Knight Jackson MBE, NHS England’s Deputy Director for Nursing Professional, was there, welcoming and encouraging attendees, as well a sharing her own journey of working overseas. She laid down a challenge, a call to action. What is your way forward, your top three priorities, how can we help your networks – even without the funding we previously had.
We then heard feedback from a number of the INMAs who had been awarded a small grant in this third round, on the activities and impact that this funding had enabled. The Alliance of Senior Kerela Nurses (ASKEN), Zambia Nurses UK, British Indian Nurses Association (BINA), the Ghana Nurses Association UK, the Caribbean Nurses and Midwives Association UK, the Philippine Nurses Association UK (PNA), the Filipino Senior Nurses Alliance UK, the Filipino Nurses Association UK, the Hellenic British Midwives Association, the Society of African and Caribbean Midwives, and the British Arab Nursing and Midwifery Association, all shared their updates.
From OSCE support, English language confidence building, pastoral support and wellbeing checks, financial wellbeing and career development support: what had been done with a small amount of funding was incredible and clearly made a different to the workforce.
The main presentations were followed by discussions to start to plan how to ensure the work is sustained, especially in the current climate of reduced funding overall, and in response to Angela Knight Jackson’s call to action. Lots of ideas and actions emerged: watch this space to find out more.
The event then turned even more lively with an opportunity to showcase some of the Association’s traditional dress, music and dancing.
Finally, Angela Knight Jackson and Natasha North, FNF’s new Director of FNF Academy, gave out the following awards, as voted for by attendees themselves:
- Most Active INMA: Philippines – Philippine Nurses Association UK (PNA)
- Most Engaged INMA: Filipino Nurses Association UK (FNA)
- INMA Leader of the Year: Leena Vinod (from Alliance of Senior Kerela Nurses)
- Best Small Grants Presentation: British Arab Nursing and Midwifery Association UK
- Best Cultural performance – Uganda Nurses and Midwives Association UK
- Best Traditional Outfit – British Indian Nurses Association (BINA)
It is clear that the growing work of these Associations is proving much needing support for an important part of the UK’s workforce.
To conclude with the emotive words of Jeni Caguioa. ‘To be authentic you have to be you: you are good enough and that is as good as it gets’.
