{"id":1186,"date":"2026-05-22T07:00:05","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T07:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bmjleader\/?p=1186"},"modified":"2026-05-15T09:19:46","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T09:19:46","slug":"building-a-culture-of-everyday-allyship-our-journey-to-creating-the-allyship-learning-library-by-clare-cambray-and-gemma-collins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bmjleader\/2026\/05\/22\/building-a-culture-of-everyday-allyship-our-journey-to-creating-the-allyship-learning-library-by-clare-cambray-and-gemma-collins\/","title":{"rendered":"Building a Culture of Everyday Allyship: Our Journey to Creating the Allyship Learning Library. By Clare Cambray and Gemma Collins"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the NHS, we talk often about compassion, inclusivity and belonging – but for these values to shape everyday experiences, we need practical tools that empower staff to turn intention into action. This belief is what inspired the development of the Allyship Learning Library <\/span>Catalogue<\/span><\/a> on the NHS Learning Hub: a curated, accessible space where colleagues can build their knowledge and skills to be active allies for one another.<\/span><\/p>\n

Allyship is not a static identity; it is a behaviour, a commitment and a continual practice. It shows up in how we challenge inequity, use our influence, amplify marginalised voices, and create safer, more equitable spaces for colleagues and patients. Yet many staff aren\u2019t always sure where to start or where to find trustworthy, evidence informed resources. Not knowing where to begin, combined with the fear of making a mistake can be enough to stop people from doing anything at all. Faced with uncertainty, doing nothing can feel safer than taking the first potentially imperfect step.<\/span><\/p>\n

This resonated deeply with us, because we were starting from that very place ourselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starting With Discomfort:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

As newly appointed Allied Health Professions (AHP) Fellows for NHS England\u2019s South West team, we were tasked with delivering a shared Equality Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) project focused on anti<\/span>–<\/span>racism.\u00a0There we were: two white,<\/span> privileged women, in senior NHS roles, working in the South West, a region not known for its ethnic diversity <\/span>Workforce-Race-Equality-Standard-2024-data-analysis-report.docx<\/span><\/a> . From the outset, our discomfort felt very real.<\/span><\/p>\n

The context around us was stark.<\/span>
\n<\/span>August 2024 was the summer of the race riots, which exposed again the racism and discrimination faced by minoritised groups within society and the NHS <\/span>Racist Riots and the NHS 2024 Report Cover<\/span><\/a>. Earlier that year, Roger Kline & Joy Warmington\u2019s BRAP report <\/span>Too hot to handle?<\/span><\/a> highlighted how concerns about racism in the NHS are overlooked.<\/span><\/p>\n

We also recognised that our allied health professions remain majority white in ethnicity (77\u201382%<\/span> Diversity data | The HCPC<\/span><\/a>), widening the gap between our lived experience and minoritised groups. Neither of us had previously worked in EDI or undertaken any significant formal anti-racism learning. It had never directly affected us, until now.<\/span><\/p>\n

If <\/span>we<\/span><\/i> felt disconnected from this topic, we realised many other white senior NHS colleagues likely did too. This may partly explain why the experiences of minoritised NHS staff show such limited improvement, despite organisational ambition <\/span>What we do – NHS \u2013 Race and Health Observatory<\/span><\/a> and national strategies <\/span>(<\/span>NHS England \u00bb NHS equality, diversity, and inclusion improvement plan<\/span><\/i>)<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

So we started where all beginners start: at the beginning.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Turning Point: Self Education<\/b>–<\/b> as a Path to Allyship<\/b><\/p>\n

Self-education is a key early step in transitioning towards active allyship. Our need to educate ourselves, quickly and authentically became the foundation of our project.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to <\/span>The Guide to Allyship<\/span><\/a>, to be an ally is to:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Take on the struggle as your own\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Transfer the benefits of your privilege to those who lack it<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Amplify voices of the oppressed before your own<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Acknowledge that even though you feel pain, the conversation is not about you<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Stand up, even when you feel scared<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Own your mistakes and de-centre yourself<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Understand that your education is up to you and no one else\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Co<\/b>–<\/b>Producing the Allyship Learning Library<\/b><\/p>\n

    Working alongside expert regional EDI leads, we read, listened and watched a wide range of resources relating to anti-racism. We catalogued and organised them. We themed them and assessed learning level and time commitment. We recognise that learning is not a one-size fits all and that people connect with and are influenced by different media.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    We intentionally captured a broad mix of formats – videos, articles, evidence summaries, lived experience, narratives and reflective tools and categorised them for:<\/span><\/p>\n