Today was my last full day as Chair of Leeds City Council BAME Staff Network as the Network meets tomorrow to confirm a new Lead & Steering Group. It has been an privilege to lead the Network over the past few years & I am incredibly proud of our achievements…

From working with senior leaders and key services across #Leeds Council to establish a #BAME Action Plan which seeks to improve the experiences of our ethnic minority colleagues, supported with a clear commitment by our leadership incl our Chief Exec Tom Riordan 👇🏽 #TeamLeeds

A Plan which has already led to:
*A strengthened risk assessment tool for BAME staff
*More local conversations on this agenda across the org
*Improving support for BAME staff
* Working with partners like ✨ John Walsh✨ to learn from key schemes like FTSU Guardians
And much more…

Creating a more connected Network with:
*Over 270 members
* Establishing a Facebook group to also reach frontline staff with over 160 members
*Regular staff Network meetings & weekly comms
*Marking key events like #BHM2020 & #IAM2020 with 100s of staff attending events

Working with Network Leads past and present as a Partnership to highlight & discuss a range of key subjects such as #Inclusion , Being BAME & #LGBT + in the workplace, Mentoring, career progression and development, mental health & so much more… #PowerOfStaffNetworks

My role as Chair has also given me the opportunity to connect with colleagues across the city & beyond sharing best practice and making a significant impact in progressing our diversity of leadership ambition as part of the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership race equality network. #teamwyh

At #Leeds Council, the Network continues to work closely with our senior leaders to develop a longer term Joint BAME Action Plan which builds on the progress made so far.

A huge thanks to all colleagues who have supported so many of the achievements in the past year from SG members past & present such as nyoka fothergill Farrah Khan MBE🌈🤎✌ to HR colleagues supporting the BAME Action Plan work esp. Andy Dodman @GrahamSephton Emma Browes @Phewall1

A special thanks also to our Leeds City Council BAME Staff Network Champions Cllr Abigail Marshall Katung & Dr Shaid Mahmood MBE for your continued support of the Network & during my time as Chair. 🙏🏽

I wish good luck to the New Chair and look forward to continuing to Champion the work of Leeds City Council BAME Staff Network as we move further on our journey to deliver on our commitments and to achieve the positive cultural shift we all want to see.