Working in a role that people don’t understand, or think is a waste of money.

by Ceri Harris , Head of Equalities and Human Rights, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

I thought I would share my perspectives of working in the area of Equality for over 20 years and the challenges that my role brings.

If I had a penny for every time, I saw someone roll their eyes or tut when I answer the question what I do for a living, I would have enough for a spa weekend at least. It’s always a conversation starter at a party, that tends to lead to a heated discussion either for or against equality.

I remember as a child going to school and making new friends what it felt like to be different and trying to fit in. My mother had polio and used callipers to walk, and when I was with her in public, we would always get stares, whispers and comments. My first schoolyard scuffle was because a boy in my class said something mean about my mum.

Indeed, for most of my life I remember feeling so angry and frustrated when someone was mean or cruel to someone because they were different to them. This sense of injustice has always been with me and although my career started in a very different space, it took me having my son to find my vocation, and I do believe my role is a vocation.

Over the past 5 years or so I have seen a huge rise in freedom of Information requests asking how much the NHS spends on equality, how much myself and members of my team are paid. Never how much the NHS saves by ensuring equality, for both its staff and the wider population. Yet, in 2021 Public Health Wales published an article in relation to how Tackling inequality could save hospitals in Wales ￡322 million every year - Public Health Wales (nhs.wales).

Freedom of Information Requests have been about how much money the Health Board is spending on marginalised groups, Pride events or interpretation costs. All from a base of othering others, making them out as a burden on services or not worthy of our support or having to justify their very existence. This always mays me think of the quote:

“The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” - Gandhi.

When I think of equality, for me it’s about the individual, understanding their needs and how we can better meet them, support them, protect them. It’s about being valued and belonging. In my email signature you will see this quote:

“Diversity is a fact, equity is a choice, inclusion is an action and belonging is an outcome.” - Arthur Chan

My role is so much more than sharing my pronouns or looking at equality monitoring demographics. Its listening to people while they share their experiences, holding someone’s hand when they are fearful, being the voice for those who don’t have power and giving them the opportunities to have that power. Its about visibility, representation and compassion.

Next month from the 23rd-29th September is National Inclusion Week, so you all have a few weeks to think about what can you do to make your department, team, workspace more inclusive. How can you use your privilege to lift others, share your power and provide opportunities for others to grow and belong.

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou

What are your thoughts?