At the start of Black History Month 2024, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust’s Board of Directors have set out a commitment to being an anti-racist organisation.

We know that racial inequalities exist in Bolton and have a profound impact on the experiences and outcomes of our staff, patients and the communities we serve.

Not being racist is simply not enough and our commitment is more than just words. We are an actively anti-racist organisation which means we do not tolerate any form of racism, and actively root out and address racial unfairness of any form.

For our words to become a reality for everyone, we have defined the action we will take.

Together we will:

• Embrace our responsibility to call out, address and eradicate racism so that everyone is able to reach their full potential.
• Have specific antiracist objectives that will be monitored through our FABB appraisal process.
• Ensure that our workforce feels a profound sense of belonging and is reflective of the diverse communities we serve. This includes equal opportunities for career development and advancement, free from discrimination and bias.
• Continue to tackle health inequalities and eliminate racial disparities, so that no one is disadvantaged because of their ethnicity or background. All patients will receive high quality care, feel respected and understood through every step of their care.
• Collaborate closely with our Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Staff Network and other community partners to develop and implement our Anti-Racist Action Plan. This plan will be aligned with the NHS Patient Carers Race Equality Framework and our Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES).
• Address instances of bullying and harassment and actively create a culture of transparency and dialogue about racism within our organisation.
• Review and revise our policies, procedures and training programs to address and eliminate racial bias. This includes ensuring that our recruitment, retention, and promotion practices are equitable and inclusive.
• Actively engage with local and regional initiatives to address racial inequalities and support efforts to influence broader societal change. We will advocate for and contribute to community-led initiatives that aim to reduce racial disparities and improve outcomes for all.

Every member of our Bolton team has a responsibility to address racism, and we know this will be a journey of continuous learning, unlearning and transformation.

To keep us on track and hold ourselves to account, we will measure and report transparently on our progress towards creating a consistently inclusive environment, including the areas that need further work.