Healthier Together partnership message: zero-tolerance for racism

We have been shocked and saddened at the violent and racist events that have taken place nationwide, including Bristol, over the past week.

These actions and riots are wholly unacceptable and have no place in today’s society. We are deeply proud that we are inclusive organisations across Healthier Together, of which AWP is a key partner, who value the contribution of colleagues from a large number of nationalities and various walks of life – diversity is without doubt one of our greatest strengths.

We want to assure everyone that you are all incredibly valued members of our community, and that we are committed to a zero-tolerance approach to racism towards our patients or colleagues.

Our local councils have information about how to report incidents of hate crime, and the links below also have some further information.

• Safer Stronger North Somerset – Hate crime
• Bristol City Council – Hate crime
• South Gloucestershire Council – Hate crime

NHS Chief Executive, Amanda Pritchard has also issued a statement which you can read in full on the NHS England website and which we are fully supportive of.

Our Trust statement

AWP strongly condemns the recent violence and rioting that have taken place across the country, including in Bristol. It's crucial that we support each other and stand together with our communities - especially those communities who are directly impacted by racism and racist violence.

The deplorable acts of crime and thuggery, alongside racial incitement online, have no place in our society. Neither do they reflect or represent the values of AWP or of the NHS more widely.

At AWP we support some of the most vulnerable people in our society, which include asylum seekers and refugees and are also proud to have a diverse workforce. We believe this diversity makes us stronger, and it is with pride that AWP makes a public commitment to being an anti-racist organisation and employer.