A new podcast is now available, featuring Loveness Ncube and Tracy Slaughter discussing race, ethnicity, and cultural heritage. This initiative coincides with Black History Month 2026, which this year celebrates "Honouring Our Communities" by recognising individuals and places that support Black life across Britain.
Throughout October, the Trust is using its platform to share the experiences of its colleagues, service users, and communities. The focus is on amplifying their contributions and highlighting daily actions taken to foster a safe, inclusive, and anti-racist organisation. This week's spotlight is on the Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage (REACH) programme and its team, who are driving change in mental health services across Greater Manchester and beyond.
Racism continues to be a significant challenge within the NHS, with staff and service users frequently experiencing discrimination and inequalities. The REACH programme was established at GMMH in direct response to concerns raised by staff. By learning from real experiences, REACH aims to create safer and more inclusive environments tailored to local community needs, while also empowering individuals to report and challenge racist behaviour.
The new podcast features Loveness Ncube and Tracy Slaughter discussing their work within the REACH programme to reduce racism-related incidents and improve service responses. The conversation includes reflections on collaboration, culture, and the shared responsibility in addressing hate crime and creating safe, respected environments.
Initially launched as two local pilots in Salford and Manchester, the REACH programme has now been adopted by NHS mental health services and partner organisations across Greater Manchester and further afield. Participating teams collaborate regularly to share learning and insights for maximum impact. The REACH team has received national and international recognition for its leadership in anti-racist practice within healthcare.
The REACH team has been shortlisted for the Inclusive Culture Initiative Award at the national Inclusive Awards 2026. This award celebrates internal initiatives focused on diversity and inclusion. GMMH is shortlisted alongside organisations such as Skyscanner and Thames Valley Police. The winners will be announced on November 12, 2026, at the Hilton Hotel in Liverpool.
Leah Norton, Quality Improvement Project Officer, stated: “Through REACH, we are building a community of passionate and driven individuals, teams, partners and services, who are taking action to bring about positive change. Together, we are greater than the sum of our parts. Our mutual commitment to learning from each other fuels our efforts and impact. We are very proud to be shortlisted for the Inclusive Culture Initiative Award and hope that this platform will encourage and inspire other organisations across the UK and beyond to take action to foster safe, inclusive, and supportive working practices.”
The REACH team has also been invited to present at the upcoming NHS Race and Health Observatory launch event on October 22. The Observatory works to identify and address ethnic inequities in health and care through research and policy recommendations. The event aims to explore how anti-racism principles can be translated into organisational change.
Alison Schofield, Quality Improvement Lead at GMMH, commented: “We are proud to represent GMMH at the NHS Race and Health Observatory event to contribute to the vital conversation about creating more equitable, inclusive and anti-racist healthcare services. The invitation by the Race and Health Observatory recognises the significant progress that we have made through REACH and provides an opportunity to demonstrate how quality improvement methodology can be been used to support culture change, engagement, and improved experiences for those from minority ethnic backgrounds.”
Further information about the REACH programme is available on the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust website, or by contacting the REACH team via email at QualityImprovement@gmmh.nhs.uk. More spotlights on people and programmes are expected throughout Black History Month.
