West Midlands Ambulance Service is proud to be launching a Race Equality & Inclusion Charter for staff as it marks Race Equality Week.
The Charter represents the Trusts commitment to Anti – Racism, striving towards inclusivity and maintaining a zero tolerance approach to racism and discrimination. It emphasises addressing racism and asks staff to speak up against it if encountered or observed within the organisation or during interactions with patients.
As an extension of the Charter, a training package has been created that aims to increase awareness around the different forms of racial discrimination, how we can speak out against it and also the importance of understanding & valuing difference.
The Trust is committed to creating and maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to racism and discrimination. Sadly, we have seen cases of this internally, but where it has happened, we have taken immediate and robust action.
Sadly however, too many of our staff have and continue to face racism as they go about their job, which we find deeply disappointing. How can it be right, for example, that a paramedic wearing a hijab faces abusive comments from bystander and even patients when another member of staff wouldn’t; they are both trying to help people in their hour of need.
Race and racism are not always well understood and therefore race is mistakenly and widely used to denote difference. Racism is very real and yet often we deny it affects us and our behaviours, which is something we are determined to change.
Carla Beechey, Director of People
I’m very excited by the training package and hope it will help us take another step forward in our commitment to creating a more inclusive workplace for all staff, volunteers, students, patients and service users.
Racial discrimination can have a significant psychological impact on the health and well-being of those affected; therefore, we need to continue working hard to develop an inclusive workplace culture where employees feel safe to, and actively challenge racial discrimination and inequalities across our Trust and the wider West Midlands.
Mohammed Ramzan, Head of Diversity and Inclusion
This Charter is WMAS’s commitment to our staff, students and volunteers that racism will not be tolerated, and whatever your heritage, ethnicity or culture, you will be treated fairly, with respect and with compassion.
It is a commitment to upholding your right to work in an environment that is free from racial discrimination, abuse, and harassment, and free from any form of racist language and behaviour. It is the promotion and celebration of diversity through inclusion and acceptance.
Charanpreet Dheensa, Human Resources Manager
The training will be available to all employees, students or volunteers and provides a structure for how we can work together to achieve a safe, inclusive and positive place to work.
Across the week, we will be sharing details of the Anti-Racism Charter and the new training package on Trust social media via @OFFICIALWMAS on Facebook, Instagram, X and Threads.
If you would like more information about the Charter, you can read more in the Race Equality Inclusion Charter pdf.