Celebrating Our Windrush Leadership Programme Alumni

FNF’s Windrush Leadership Programme started in 2018. Since then over 300 nurses and midwives have graduated, with more still part way through. We were delighted to host an alumni event to celebrate the achievements of those who participated in the programme.

Caribbean nurses arrived in Britain, alongside other workers on HMT Empire Windrush and other ships from June 1948, the same year as the inception of the NHS – just over 75 years ago. The Windrush generations and their descendants have made a major contribution to the NHS workforce as and indeed so have those who have come to the UK from all over the world – they are an essential part of our rich and diverse health and care workforce.

In response to the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) data that showed us that nurses and midwives from black and ethnic minority background have poorer working experience and less favourable career progression opportunities, FNF partnered with Health Education England, now NHS England, in 2018 to offer a new leadership programme. Named after that ship that docked in Tilbury over 75 years ago, this ‘Windrush leadership programme’ aimed to play a part in closing the gap in career opportunities across health and social care settings for nurses and midwives from black and ethnic minority backgrounds, as well as contributing to addressing inequalities in healthcare for patients and communities. The first cohort completed the programme in 2019 (the photo above shows many of this first cohort!) and, since then, over 300 nurses and midwives have graduated, with more still currently part way through. More recently we have also been able to offer places to nurses and midwives from across the UK, thanks to support from the NMC.

I regularly hear from participants and alumni of the programme who describe a ‘life-changing’ experience and the impact it has on their personal and professional development. Their development in turn benefits their wider teams and the communities they work with. This Alumni event is an amazing opportunity to celebrate the achievements of those who participated in the programme. Staff are the greatest resource the NHS has and, now more than ever, we need to need to continue to all work in partnership to ensure that the career and leadership opportunities are available to all and that everyone’s contribution is celebrated.

The Alumni Event was an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our graduates and to hear their stories, whilst also acknowledging there is still much to do in recuing health inequalities.

Paulette Lewis, MBE, Non-Executive Director NHS and President of the Caribbean Nurses & Midwives Association (UK) spoke at the start of the event about the Windrush history and significance.

During the day we heard from a number of the Windrush programme alumni about their achievements and the impact of the programme. (see download below for more details)

We also welcomed Avey Bhatia, Chief Nurse at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and FNF president, to deliver a keynote speech: she shared her own nursing journey and personal history.

The day concluded with a panel debate chaired by Steve Ford, Editor of the Nursing Times, on the nurse and midwife role in reducing health inequalities in the next 20 years from a national policy and local perspective. Thanks to the panellists for sharing their insights and experiences:

• Wendy Olayiwola, BEM FRSA FRCM RM RN, National Maternity Lead for Equality at NHS England
• Marsha Jones, Director of Nursing and Safeguarding at North-East London ICB
• Liz Fenton, Director of Nursing & Midwifery NHSE
• Kendra Schneller MBE, Windrush Alumni

The Nursing Times has since shared feedback on the event and the debate. Read an extract below and the full story here.

“There was general agreement, I think, that there had been some progress in recent decades on reducing inequalities at local level, though nowhere near enough. Looking ahead, however, nurses and midwives clearly do have the potential to play a crucial role if given the right backing and opportunities. They represent the largest clinical group in the NHS. Their desire and innovation could shift the dial on health inequalities, be it at national, regional and local level. But to do so, they need far more support, funding and, more importantly, more of them.” Steve Ford, Editor, Nursing Times

We thank everyone who attended and supported us. With particular thanks to HCA Healthcare UK who sponsored the event. The next Windrush Leadership Programme will start in spring 2025. Watch out in our newsletter and social media for news of application dates and details.