Students from University of Staffordshire and Keele University visited Westminster to present an anti-racism manifesto to Members of Parliament
The anti-racism manifesto is an important piece of work co-created by our students and shaped by their own experiences. So, it was a privilege to showcase this to politicians and changemakers.
Originally developed by BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care students at University of Staffordshire, the manifesto shares good practice and solution-focused responses to challenge racism within health and social care settings.
According to data from Skills for Care, around a quarter of employees in the sector come from ethnic minority backgrounds and, despite the Social Care Race Equality Standard, many workers still report experiences of racism.
The University is collaborating with local partners to disseminate the manifesto and has been working with the Stoke and Staffordshire Integrated Care System. Now, it is hoping to drive systemic change on a national scale after a group of students presented the work to MPs at the Palace of Westminster.
During the visit the students had a full tour of Parliament, including the Commons and the Lords, enjoyed a debate on health and social care from the public gallery and met with Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell.
The manifesto is also being supported by Staffordshire Moorlands MP Karen Bradley who highlighted the work with the Secretary of State for Health, Kerin Smyth MP, and has given suggestions to move it forward.
Jill Salt, Course Leader for Health & Social Care, said: “This trip has been a fantastic experience for our students. For some this was their first time in our capital city, for most their first time in Parliament and for others their first time contributing to the development of social policy change.
“The anti-racism manifesto is an important piece of work co-created by our students and shaped by their own experiences. So, it was a privilege to showcase this to politicians and changemakers, especially our local MPs who have been very attentive and generous with their time.”
The trip was made possible thanks to funding from CENTRIS, the University’s Careers, Placements and Employability team, and the Students’ Union.
While in London, the students took part in a strategic workshop at the Equality Trust, collaborating with professionals to develop a roadmap for scaling their initiatives across England.
Across the two-days, the students also had chance to visit some of the capital’s iconic landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and Downing Street.
LLB (Hons) Law student Michelle Ngoni said: “I am incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to attend. I had the chance to engage in meaningful conversations around anti-racism, lived experiences, and the importance of challenging systemic inequalities. I also had the opportunity to meet some amazing women at the event and be part of discussions where ideas and perspectives flowed so openly. It was inspiring to hear different viewpoints and contribute to such honest and thought-provoking conversations."
Health and Social Care student Alieu Jatta added: “This opportunity afforded me the chance to gain experience that was both academically and culturally rewarding. The experience of watching members of parliament and ministers of the government engage in conversations about issues concerning health and social care was not only intellectually stimulating but also inspirational. My understanding of democratic procedures and public policy was greatly improved as a result of my direct participation in parliamentary proceedings.”