Students from level 4, 5 and 6 of the BSc Health and Social Care at University of Staffordshire joined together in an off timetabled day to co-create an anti-racist health and social care manifesto.
The event was planned over several months. Within our undergraduate health and social care cohorts, we have a diverse student body. Our health and socialc care student body is 47.8% BAME, 47.8% white, 4.27% unknown (University of Staffordshire EDI Data). After a lesson back in November 2024 with Level 4 students discussing professional values in health and social care, students shared experiences of racism in their employment within the health and social care sector. We discussed the Equality Act 2010, University of Staffordshire equality, diversity and inclusion policies and felt that there was more that we could do as an anti-racist course.
Health and social care as a workforce more broadly is diverse. Data from Skills for Care (2023) reveals that 14% of sector employees are black, 9% Asian and 2% of mixed ethnicity. These figures roundup to a quarter of the workforce being from an ethnic minority background. This sits alongside a caring environment where many of our students have expressed experiences of racism in the workplace, despite the Social Care Race Equality Standard.
We came up with the idea of co-creating an anti-racist Health and Social Care Manifesto – a set of recommendations for anti-racist practice the health and social care providers could work with. The manifesto will share solutions focused, good practice in tackling racism as a carer and in health and social care settings.
We invited in a specialist facilitator, Chrissie Okorie to work with us. Chrissie is a decolonial practitioner with specialisms in race, social justice and decolonial practices. Over the last five years, she has worked with Maokwo to produce a multitude of projects, programmes and events centring on migrant justice. She also supports organisations to work with marginalised communities in holistic and creative ways using indigenous and decolonial practices that draw heavily on anti-oppressive principles.
Chrissie said, "It was an honour to facilitate and co-create the anti-racism manifesto with BSc Health Care students from University of Staffordshire. It is important that universities are part of transformative change in their communities. I hope that the anti-racism manifesto can make positive changes for all carers in Staffordshire. Providing them with the support to tackle racism through holistic healing and community care. I hope the manifesto allows other universities to take a stand and create change."
Feedback about the event from students has been extremely positive.
Feedback on the day:
- “I feel like today has been really welcoming and empowering. I have learned a lot”
- “I valued how strong the people who shared their stories and traumas were… It took a lot of courage to get up in front of everyone and share”
- “I valued the opportunity to be honest and the mixture of views within the group”
- “Sharing ideas and experiences … diversity … support from the Uni & colleagues... lifting hopes from students”
- “Insightful to understand how to tackle racism in the workplace”
Post-event reflections:
- “I just wanted to say thank you for organising today. It was really insightful and has given me a better understanding of how I can support my colleagues and be an ally to them with racism and challenge practices that may be outdated or not inclusive.“ - Level 6 Health and Social Care student
- "I sincerely hope more people can be educated on issues regarding racism in work places, especially in the health and social care sector. Racism within this sector reduces the performance of staff who face racial discrimination, it also affects the well being of individuals and the people they render services to." - Level 4 Health and Social Care student
The event's co-creation has been written up into a Manifesto. We are working with the Stoke-on-Trent Public Health team who have disseminated the manifesto across Stoke-on-Trent health and social care providers.
The anti-racist manifesto is a great opportunity to showcase the power of the SPARKS collaboration across the University, Stoke-on-Trent Council and Integrated Care Board. It is also a fantastic opportunity to spotlight the opportunities available to health and social care students at the University of Staffordshire and showcase the fantastic change making opportunities on offer to students on our BSc Health and Social Care.