Published on: 1st June 2026

There is no space for racism in health and care. We are taking a stand across Greater Manchester.

Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership - which includes Pennie Care and all the health and social care services, local councils and community organisations - has launched a new anti-racism campaign.

The No Space for Racism campaign website has information on how you can report incidents of racism and help to create a safe space for everyone.

Our chair, Claudette Elliott, is helping to lead the campaign. Several staff have also shared their experiences of racism, including Fola Ojosi, nursing assistant at Pennine Care.

The new No Space for Racism campaign will:

  • Make it clear that racism is never acceptable
  • Explain what racism is and why it hurts people
  • Encourage everyone to treat staff with respect
  • Tell people how to report racism if they see it

Experiences of health and care staff

Racism, abuse and a decrease in tolerance and respect is affecting our towns and our local neighbourhoods. It is also affecting the people who work hard to care for us.

Some health and care workers being treated unfairly because of their race or religion, with around 1 in 4 health and care staff in Greater Manchester reporting that they have experienced racism at work in the past year.

This includes racist words, insults, being ignored or left out, being threatened and sometimes even violence.

Health and care staff care for us when we are sick, injured or need support. They deserve respect, not racism. They deserve to feel safe.

Fola Ojosu, nursing assistant, and several health colleagues have shared their experience in this video.

Claudette, our chair, said: “Racism has no place in Greater Manchester and that includes our health and care services. It will not be tolerated.

“Our staff work hard to care for our communities – they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. When they experience racism, it affects how safe they feel at work, their wellbeing and can have an impact on them long after the moment has passed.

“I hope people see the campaign video and feel empowered to stand with our staff. It can feel hard to act. You might worry about saying the wrong thing or making things worse however, even small actions can make a difference. Step in if it’s safe to do so, check in with person affected, report it – all of these send a clear message – racism is not okay.”

Report racism and be an active bystander - why it matters

Racism creates fear and can make it harder for staff to do their jobs. It can also affect the care people receive.

If you see or hear racism in a health or care setting or anywhere, do not ignore it. Report it and speak up if it is safe to act. This is called being an active bystander.

Reporting racism helps us take action, supports staff and prevents it from happening again. Visit the No Space for Racism campaign website for more information.

By speaking up or reporting what you see, you can help protect staff and create a safer environment for everyone.