Anti-Racist Training

Perinatal Cohorts

For clinicians on the ground delivering perinatal care

Aims to transform both personal and systemic levels of understanding and practice among those directly involved in clinical care.

Senior leaders programme

For those in positions of power or leadership, with strategic and managerial responsibilities.

(heads of departments | directors | chief executive officers and those influencing structural and system changes.)

Aims to empower leaders with the knowledge and tools to effect systemic change, making decisions that contribute to maintaining anti-racist organizations

Evidence shows that people need sustained, psychologically safe immersion in anti-racist theory and practice to explore the role of individuals, teams, and systems in perpetuating unsafe care. Our partners at Black Mothers Matter advise that traditional approaches to equity, diversity, and inclusion training are insufficient and do not translate into tangible improvements.

Acknowledging that racism within NHS systems causes poor outcomes and experiences for women and families racialised as Black, we believe that anti-racist action is the only way forward.

Our approach is a transformational programme, based on the following components:

In-depth, anti-racist training delivered within a brave space by specialist practitioners with lived experience
This enables teams to train together, gathering multi-disciplinary clinicians from across trusts to collaborate and connect. The training is delivered through three in-person sessions over six months. Cohorts include multidisciplinary perinatal teams and a senior leadership cohort.
Embedding learning into practice
To support the educational component, participants meet an additional three times as part of the Black Maternity Matters Book Club. Each cohort gets a reading list of three books selected to help them explore and reflect on the learning from the educational sessions and connect to their experience and practice.
Turning learning into action
All participants are encouraged to develop their own quality improvement project to make changes within their work context to transform perinatal services and improve outcomes for Black women and babies. As part of this, participants have the opportunity to attend three CPD-accredited QI workshops and join community of practice sessions themed around areas of anti-racism. The workshops are also available as a self-study resource.
An ongoing community
Once the six-month formal learning is completed, participants are encouraged to remain an active part of the collaborative through regular virtual workshops and learning opportunities. This is supported by a dedicated website, Instagram account and newsletter. We also hold an annual graduation and celebration event. Each cohort identifies a champion to support participants back in their own work setting.
Additional inspiration and support
Participants have access to therapeutic support and guidance from a trained, race- and trauma-informed professional if needed. We host additional opportunities for collaborative participants including Brave Spaces (wellbeing and restorative space for participants racialised as Black) and Race-trauma Informed Care learning days, alongside our rolling programme of expert-led workshops.