A project that aims to address disparities in career progression for Black, Asian and minority ethnic nurses and midwives is underway thanks to funding from an anti-racism grant scheme.
Jokotade Adeshina and Tenifayo Adeyemo, nurses from University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, have been awarded the Michelle Cox Foundation Anti-Racism Award for 2024.
“I am delighted that Jokotade and Tenifayo have begun work on their ambitious, but much-needed project”
Michelle Cox
The £2,500 grant will allow the nurses to develop their project, which seeks to monitor and promote racial equality across their trust in relation to nursing and midwifery.
The pair will keep track of any instances of racism and unconscious bias in their organisation and will advocate for inclusive career progression and workplace diversity.
In addition, they will work to ensure minority ethnic nurses are empowered to safely report concerns without fear of retaliation.
Ms Adeshina and Ms Adeyemo said that, by embedding anti-racism into the fabric of daily operations and holding the system accountable, the project would drive sustainable change within nursing and midwifery.
The project, titled ‘Advancing Equality in Nursing: A Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation Initiative’, has begun and aims to be completed by June 2026.
Jokotade Adeshina
In a joint statement, Ms Adeshina and Ms Adeyemo said: “Despite their significant contributions to healthcare, [Black, Asian and minority ethnic] nurses and midwives often face barriers that hinder their advancement, leading to a lack of diversity in leadership roles.
“This project is crucial for identifying these challenges through ongoing monitoring and evaluation, ensuring that tailored interventions can be developed to support equitable career development.
“By addressing these issues, we hope to foster a more inclusive healthcare workforce, improving both the professional experiences of [Black, Asian and minority ethnic] staff and the quality of care delivered to diverse patient populations.”
The Michelle Cox Foundation Anti-Racism Award, set up in 2023, offers an annual grant of £2,500 to support nursing or midwifery-led projects that aim to oppose racism and promote racial equality.
Tenifayo Adeyemo
It is named after Michelle Cox, a senior nurse who won a landmark racial discrimination case against the NHS in 2023.
Ms Cox’s employment tribunal found that she faced discrimination, harassment and victimisation because of her race, and that her internal grievances were handled incorrectly.
Motivated by the need for change, Ms Cox worked with the RCN Foundation to create this award.
Ms Cox said: “So many NHS staff, including nurses and midwives, are doing incredible work on the anti-racism agenda but it is often done in silos and struggles to be sustainable or replicated beyond their current team.
“I am delighted that Jokotade and Tenifayo have begun work on their ambitious, but much-needed project designed to tackle systemic inequality and promote diversity within the nursing and midwifery professions.
“I very much look forward to hearing the progress on this worthy initiative.”
More about the Michelle Cox RCN Foundation Anti-Racism Award
