'Reciprocal Mentoring has been incredibly beneficial' - Interim CEO and Pride Network Lead reflect on innovative UHDB mentoring scheme
The Lead of UHDB’s Pride Network, Dan Walton-Ashmore, and Interim CEO, Dr Magnus Harrison, have been reflecting on the positive impact our Reciprocal Mentoring Programme has had on them both and on the organisation during Pride Month.
The Programme involved members of UHDB’s Board being matched with colleagues from underrepresented groups – including the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and LGBTQIA+ community – to provide leaders with first-hand education about some of the disadvantages people can face at work because of their race, sexuality, gender, or disability. This forms a key part of our commitment to making UHDB a more inclusive place to work.
As part of the first cohort, Dr Magnus Harrison was matched with Lead of the Pride Network, Dan Walton-Ashmore, and both have shared their thoughts and learning about how the Programme has impacted on them.
Dan said: “I felt apprehensive at first but I am really proud of the Trust for being so open and adopting this method as it has allowed myself and Network members to see that our voice matters and that I could act as a voice of so many people who felt unheard prior to this programme.
“The freedom to be honest with one of our senior leaders was really empowering and it was amazing for us both to be able to learn from each other, which is something I never thought was possible for a member of our senior team to learn from me.”
Dan and Magnus met regularly and shared experiences and ideas as to how to put their learning into actions, something Dan said made a huge impact on the success of the programme and the ethos of the Trust going forward:
“Magnus showed a genuine interest and empathy about what it can be like for a gay man working on the front line.
“There is a massive difference to being invited to the chat compared to being listened to. There is a real culture change going on within society now, so having our Executive team hear about these issues and acting on them shows there is power in every single voice at UHDB.”
Dr Magnus Harrison shared Dan’s sentiments and feels he has taken a lot away from the scheme which he is now embedding into his work and that of the Board:
“The Reciprocal Mentoring Programme was incredibly beneficial, and it opened my eyes to scenarios that I had not been so aware of before this, and for that I am extremely grateful. I have learnt about bystander apathy – “to sin by silence, when we should protest, makes cowards out of men”. We must protect our colleagues by addressing the root cause of any abuse they receive, something Dan has experienced this on many occasions.
“I would like to thank Dan for his honesty and bravery in sharing his story and look forward to continuing to work with him through our Pride Network as we continue along this journey as a Trust.”
Dan also expressed his optimistic outlook for the future at UHDB and thanked the Executive team for backing the programme:
“I want UHDB to be the ‘Rainbow Trust’ of the UK and a leader for inclusion and diverse healthcare, where every staff member, patient and visitor is free to be their whole self and where our networks constantly bring around change through working with senior leadership teams. Thank you so much to everyone for helping us take more steps closer to that goal.”