"It brought out the strong me."

After joining Mencap as a support worker, Seun Ajiboye felt "empowered" through our colleague support groups. Here she talks about the importance of feeling supported at work, and how the groups have helped her take the next step in her Mencap career.

"For me, the Black and Asian Colleagues Anti-Racism and Support Group provides community support, education, and awareness. I have gained a deeper understanding of the experiences of my colleagues and the perspective of people from diverse background. The opportunity of being a part of the group has expanded my network both socially and professionally as well.

"Support workers make up a huge percentage of the employees at Mencap. I joined Mencap as a support worker and sometimes it’s difficult to see past the service you are working at, supporting people with a learning disability directly and being involved in every part of their day to day lives. Apart from what was written on the website, all I knew of Mencap really for the first six months was my colleagues and people we support.

"So it was amazing to be able to meet people from across the organisation and learn about all the work going on at Mencap, not just about the journey towards being an anti-racist organisation, but everything else happening outside of the service I worked in. I just thought it was an amazing group.

"I first learned about the group through our online employee platform, Viva Engage, and soon I realised it was a community of people with relatable culture.

"As the name implies, I felt a sense of belonging, talking to and relating with people with shared similar experiences, challenges, and cultural background.

"It’s a safe space and to talk about our experiences racial inequalities in the systems, processes, practices, and attitudes.

"My manager at the service was really, really supportive of me joining the group. She would encourage me to attend meetings online, giving me some time around my shifts at the service. Support workers are busy all the time, so she created time for me to attend which was amazing. It made me feel that it was taken seriously.

"As a member of the group, I feel a little more empowered. Collectively we endeavour to identify and address issues of discrimination and racial inequality within Mencap, and this motivates me to give my best at work.? I feel I can be a part of positive change and increase my confidence to progress in my career at Mencap.

"I came to the UK to study, completing a Masters and CIPD qualification in HR, and I have recently started a new role that makes use of my skills and education. I’m now a Talent Acquisition Specialist in the recruitment team at Mencap. I wouldn’t have applied for the role if it weren’t for the confidence the group gave me. It brought out the strong me.

"But it isn’t just the Black and Asian colleagues group I’m a part of.? Mencap’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion team facilitate other network groups too, for colleagues with disabilities and those from the LGBTQUIA+ communities for example. I’ve recently joined the women’s group and am spreading the word to raise awareness and get more people involved to make bigger impacts to change things for the better.?

"It lets people know - we are here to support them too, if for whatever reason they feel discriminated against, they have people they can lean on and trust.

"I’ve learned so much about Mencap through being part of these groups, they make it a much more inclusive place to work and demonstrate that our ?values aren’t just words. They can be real, I’m indeed grateful for them."

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