Racism has devastating consequences. We recognise, that as an organisation promoting the study and commemoration of the histories and material cultures of medicine and healthcare in the Midlands, we accept that we have not more, but everything to do. We apologise for being silent for so long. We want a society built on inclusion and equality of access and opportunity. We want to overturn institutional racism. We want a collection and workforce to reflect diversity and affect change.
Last year we trained with ‘Inclusive Boards’ to understand how we might be able to embed the Creative Case for Diversity in our small organisation and we are progressing. We are making new connections to diversify our small workforce of volunteers, including our steering group who report to the Board of Trustees at the Charles Hastings Education Centre.
Right now we are beginning to gather oral histories and witness testimony from staff within hospital and healthcare settings in Worcestershire focussing on the coronavirus pandemic and hope to highlight the reliance of the county and nation on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff (our doctors, nurses, cleaners and porters amongst them), who have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19.
There is still everything to do, because Black Lives Matter.