This session aims to join together women of colour and their allies in a relaxed, safe space to connect, share and start to discover what they can take charge of for themselves to support their own leadership journeys.

Almost a quarter (24.2 per cent) of the NHS workforce are from black or minority ethnic backgrounds. While women make up a large proportion of the workforce in lower Agenda for Change bands, women are significantly under-represented at board level. Numerous reports have suggested that institutional racism is common, women of colour change themselves to fit a norm, are disproportionality passed over for promotion, experience discrimination in recruitment and that a lack of progression impacts their wellbeing and motivation.

In the first part of this session you will hear from some of the members of the existing London Women of Colour Network and its facilitators around the impact of the network and what it has inspired women of colour to go on to achieve. The space will then open up to your own networking time, with prompted questions and supported discussion.