Cultural Inclusion Network shortlisted for prestigious Excellence in Community Partnership Award
Coventry and Warwickshire's Cultural Inclusion Network (CIN) is proud to be shortlisted for the Excellence in Community Partnership Award at the upcoming B.A.M.E. Health and Care Awards.
These national awards shine a spotlight on the achievements of B.A.M.E staff and allies who break barriers, champion equity, and transform lives. From leadership and innovation to community impact, they celebrate those working tirelessly to make health and care services more inclusive, equitable, and inspiring for all.
The nomination is a powerful recognition of the impact CIN has made since its launch in January 2022. The network was born out of the voices of some of our grassroots voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations, many from ethnic minority communities, who felt underrepresented, undervalued, and unheard in the design of mental health services. Coventry and Warwickshire ICB and Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust brought the CIN together to respond to these concerns, with support from Rethink as the Lead Accountable Body. The network provided a new and different route for smaller, often overlooked organisations to be recognised, supported, and meaningfully included in shaping mental health services and improving patient experience.
Since its creation, CIN has become a new route for our mental health services:
- Ensuring more community organisations are represented in key strategic meetings and decision-making boards.
- Building stronger partnerships between the voluntary sector and public services.
- Increasing access to resources and opportunities for grassroots groups.
- Challenging systemic inequalities and institutional racism across the sector.
Dr Imogen Staveley, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Coventry and Warwickshire ICB, said:
The Cultural Inclusion Network is playing a crucial role in helping the voices of local communities to be involved in healthcare planning. It has provided a different platform for underrepresented groups to feed in their views on how we can address and tackle inequalities and provided some vital insights into how we can make the health and care sector a more culturally inclusive place to work.
I am delighted with this nomination, it really does highlight the work we have done to embed cultural inclusion in organisations across our system. We have sought out new opportunities to ensure that everyone, no matter their differences, are accessing opportunities equally and fairly and I'm looking forward to seeing this work continue to develop further over the coming years.
Lexi Ireland, Strategic Lead for Health Equity at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, said:
The success of the Cultural Inclusion Network is rooted in the voices, experiences and leadership of our diverse communities. By creating space for honest conversations, shared learning and collaborative action, we've been able to drive real change in tackling health inequalities.
To see this work recognised with a nomination for the National B.A.M.E. Health and Care Awards is a huge honour, and a reflection of the passion and commitment of everyone involved.
Looking ahead, CIN is being recognised as a new and exciting driver for tackling health inequalities across the region. Great initiatives are already in motion - such as improving access for people from diverse backgrounds to NHS Talking Therapies services - with further opportunities for funding and engagement on the horizon.
Last Mafuba, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Inini Initiative Ltd, said:
As a founding grassroots member of the Cultural Inclusion Network, I am proud to see how far we have come in such a short time. CIN has created a powerful platform where the voices of underserved communities are now being heard and represented at decision-making tables. It is inspiring to be part of a movement that not only champions equity but also ensures that lived experience shapes the future of our health and care services.
Winners will be announced on 25 September 2025.