In preparation for Black History Month this October, we are revisiting the Race Equality Matters 5-Day Challenge—this time, spread across five weeks. Starting 1st October, each week will focus on a powerful theme designed to deepen understanding of race, privilege, and inclusion.
Black History Month is a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black individuals and communities, while also reflecting on the ongoing journey toward racial equity. This challenge gives us the opportunity to move from reflection to action, making real progress together.
What is the 5-Week Challenge?
Each week, employees will receive a short reflection and activity that takes only a few minutes to complete.
Week 1 (Oct 1): Intersectionality – Explore how different aspects of identity shape experiences in the workplace.
Week 2 (Oct 8): Recognising Privilege – Reflect on how privilege shows up in daily life and opportunities.
Week 3 (Oct 15): Inclusive Language – Understand the impact of the words we choose on belonging.
Week 4 (Oct 22): Code-Switching / Masking – Consider the adjustments people make to fit in and the personal cost it can carry.
Week 5 (Oct 29): The Big Promise – Make a personal commitment to advancing race equity in your workplace.
Why this matters during Black History Month
This month is not only about celebration—it is also a call to learn, reflect, and act. By participating in the challenge, you’ll engage with key themes in a practical, accessible way that helps foster a more inclusive workplace.
How it will run
Each week, the EDI Team, via MFT Time and EDI Allies, will share the weekly challenge with staff.
Resources developed by Race Equality Matters will guide the activities.
At the end of each week, we will gather feedback from clinical groups and service areas on how the challenge was experienced, with highlights shared on the intranet.
This 5-week journey aligns Black History Month with Race Equality Matters’ powerful structure—turning awareness into meaningful action, one week at a time.
Watch this space and MFT intranet — your challenge begins on 1st October.
Pleas feel free to contact us at equality@mft.nhs.uk to get involved
Leave a Reply