Your Inclusion Award 2026 winners announced
"Is it kind? Is it fair? Do we have the courage to change it?" - Ajit Abraham
We are delighted to announce the winners of the 2026 WeBelong Inclusion Awards
On Friday 23 October, colleagues gathered in The Great Hall at St Bartholomew’s Hospital to celebrate this year’s WeBelong Inclusion Awards. The awards showcase the dedication from individuals and teams across the Trust in fostering an inclusive environment for both staff and patients.
Shane Degaris opened the ceremony:
“Today is about honouring our communities. For me, that means recognising not only the people we care for, but the people we work alongside. I regard serving those communities as both a privilege and a responsibility.”
“It means listening carefully, recognising the knowledge and experience people bring, and involving them in shaping their care. Above all, it means working with our communities, not assuming we have all the answers for them.
“We live in challenging times. That makes our commitment to fairness, inclusion and equity more important, not less. I want us to be clear about what we stand for: compassionate care, respect for every person, and a willingness to address the barriers that prevent people from getting the support they need.
Our Chair, Ian Jacobs added:
“Today we celebrate the colleagues and teams who make a difference every day. People who help to create a culture in which everyone can feel included, respected and that they belong - that matters enormously.
“Because inclusion isn't something that sits apart from the day-to-day work of our hospitals. It is fundamental to who we are, how we work together and the care we provide.
“When our people feel that they belong, they are better able to bring their skills, ideas and experience to work. And ultimately, that helps us provide better care for our patients and communities.”
Your winners announced
Advancing Equality - Jenise Jarvis
Jenise achieved the Bronze accreditation under the Capital Midwife Anti-Racism Framework in the Newham Maternity AIRA group, recognising its work to embed anti-racist practices and improve the experience and outcomes of ethnic minority maternity staff. Working in partnership with staff, the group developed an equality, diversity and inclusion statement, launched key initiatives and created a comprehensive action plan to drive long-term change.
Allyship - Giles Armstrong
Giles transformed emergency care for autistic patients by championing improvements designed and shaped by autistic people themselves, helping his Emergency Department become the first in London and the first major trauma centre to achieve National Autistic Society Inclusion Award accreditation. He has also shared this learning nationally and internationally through teaching, publications and collaboration, helping other hospitals improve accessibility and achieve accreditation for autism-inclusive care.
Diversity & Inclusion Influence - Sabrina Mubiru
As Chair of the Anti-Racism Implementation Advisory Group (ARIA), Sabrina has led the implementation of the Capital Midwives Anti-Racism Framework across maternity services, embedding equity, cultural safety and anti-racist practice into staff training, governance and patient care. Through innovative initiatives, staff engagement and partnership with diverse communities, she has improved confidence in tackling bias, strengthened trust among minoritised women, and helped drive change both locally and nationally.
Employee Network / Site Lead - Joanna VanOchten
Joanna has been a driving force for improving support for staff experiencing menopause at Barts Health, leading the development and successful introduction of the Trust’s Menopause Policy and helping create a more inclusive and supportive workplace. Through her persistence, collaboration and ongoing policy review work, she has strengthened awareness, support and practical adjustments for staff, delivering lasting change across the organisation.
Equity in education - Paediatric ED Reducing Frequent Attendances in Whipps Cross Hospital
The Paediatric Emergency Department team’s Family Liaison Nurse initiative has improved health equity by equipping staff with practical public health skills and empowering more than 400 vulnerable families with tailored support, education and access to community services. Through innovative micro-learning, cross-sector collaboration and family-centred care, the programme achieved an 83% reduction in repeat ED attendances and 100% family satisfaction.
Inclusion in the Community - Edna Ahmed
Edna played a pivotal role in the Access Denied project by helping young Black men share their experiences of healthcare and ensuring their voices were heard across the Trust. Through her advocacy for culturally safe, user-led engagement, she challenged traditional approaches, deepened understanding of health inequalities and mistrust, and helped pave the way for a new community-led programme aimed at reducing inequalities in healthcare access.
Reducing Health Inequalities - Amelia Kabia
Amelia led a successful project at Whipps Cross Maternity Unit to improve access to ultrasound scans for women who prefer female sonographers for cultural or religious reasons, working closely with patients, community leaders and maternity partners to redesign the service around their needs. Her changes reduced scan refusals by 64%, improved patient experience and satisfaction, and created a more inclusive, culturally sensitive model of care that is now being shared across Barts Health and other London trusts.
CEO Award - RLH Maternity Helpline Team
The Maternity Helpline Team has transformed access to maternity care by providing timely, inclusive midwifery advice and support, helping women get the right care at the right time while reducing health inequalities and unnecessary visits to triage. Recognised by the CQC for outstanding performance, the team has improved patient safety, experience and outcomes through prompt follow-up, continuous improvement and a compassionate, high-quality service.
Guest speaker Emmanuel Gotora, Assistant Director of East London & Housing at Citizens UK, also attended the event and shared some thoughts on the road to cultural repair:
“You cannot organise what you cannot imagine. Let’s picture the road repaired. What does that look like? it could look like this:
- A Bangladeshi mother giving birth at the Royal London is no more likely to bleed than any other mother on the ward.
- A family in Newham, one of the most diverse boroughs in the country, trusts Newham Hospital enough to come in early, not wait until it's an emergency.
- A porter at Whipps Cross and a consultant at Barts both believe the next promotion could be theirs.
“It will take a relational culture to repair this road. It will require imagination beyond bureaucracy.”
A huge congratulations to our winners and nominees and thank you for embodying the meaning of inclusivity in your everyday work.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to make a nomination and recognise someone matters.