A NORTH Wales NHS charity has launched an initiative to support healthcare professionals from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.

The Awyr Las charity has launched the scheme thanks to funding from the NHS Charities Together (NHSCT) Covid-19 Urgent Appeal.

It means small grants of up to £1,000 are now available to staff from ethnic minority groups working for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB).

Applicants are invited to apply for funding towards supplementary continuous personal development and training to support career progression.

The need for the small grants initiative was identified by members of BCUnity, the Ethnic Minority and Overseas Staff Network launched by Betsi Cadwaladr in October last year.

Nick Such, equality and inclusion manager at BCUHB, explained: "We formed the Network to offer peer support for ethnic minority staff and allies. The group provides a space to celebrate positive contributions and escalate issues affecting members as they arise.

"During the pandemic, we have reviewed all available evidence relating to issues affecting ethnic minority staff, including the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people.

"The pandemic has also highlighted to network members that they could make a further positive difference by undertaking additional training and development."

He added: "This grant scheme is a welcome initiative to help address the need to increase the professional mobility of ethnic minority staff in organisations like ours. Ultimately, this will translate into better experiences and outcomes for patients from minority communities.

"We are extremely grateful to our NHS charity, Awyr Las, for facilitating the grants, and most importantly to everyone who has donated to the Covid-19 appeals over the past year."

BCUHB registered general nurse, Norah Musyoki, an active member of BCUnity, has applied for a grant of £1,000 under the new scheme.

Denbighshire Free Press: Norah Musyoki and Nick Such (Credit - Sports Pictures Cymru)Norah Musyoki and Nick Such (Credit - Sports Pictures Cymru)

If successful, this would go towards her BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies top up degree at the University of Derby.

Norah, who was born and raised in Kenya but now living in Wrexham, explained what the grant scheme opportunity means to her.

She said: "Having the Awyr Las grant accessible to the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic community will not just be an effective way of carrying out the agenda of availing resources to the community, but will greatly assist many like me to scale up the academic ladder.

"This is always a challenge as not many opportunities are open to us due to some of the limitations attached to the work permits we hold.

"With this grant, if I am successful in gaining funding, I will have obtained support to fund part of the fees for my top up degree. I'm optimistic that this is the door I need to step onto the career development ladder and therefore willing to do the extra mile."

You can donate to the Awyr Las Covid-19 Response Fund by going to www.awyrlas.org.uk/donate