The Michelle Cox RCN Foundation Anti-Racism Award is a partnership between the RCN Foundation and Michelle Cox.
This is an annual grant which will support a nurse or midwifery-led project which aims to oppose racism and promote racial equality within nursing and midwifery.
The grant is open to registered nurses and midwives across the UK that are RCN members.
Grants of £2,500 will be awarded annually through a competitive process.
Background to the award
Michelle Cox is a Black nurse from Liverpool who was employed by NHSE&I Commissioning as a Continuing Healthcare Manager, based in Manchester from May 2017. Michelle, who has been a registered nurse of 25 years, made the decision to blow the whistle on poor practice in her service across the North of England, and decided to submit a grievance which included discrimination by her manager.
Dissatisfied with the way her complaints of racism were handled, and certain she had been mistreated for whistleblowing, Michelle took her employer to industrial tribunal and won a landmark racial discrimination case. She was represented by the Royal College of Nursing.
Determined to create a positive legacy from the devastating impact that the legal battle had on her, Michelle has been working with the RCN Foundation to create an award that aims to support nursing and midwifery staff to tackle racism.
About the award
Funded projects will aim to transform unequal workplace relations that negatively impact individuals from the Global Majority. Projects will aim to build anti-racist workplaces and could include the development of webinars and virtual learning packages, Global Majority development programmes, reverse mentoring programmes and advocacy programmes.
Project applications should include consultation with experts and stakeholders including service users to ensure that the diversity of the workforce and the local population is considered.
The award process will be equitable, accessible and fair.
Eligibility criteria
To apply for the funding, applicants need to be:
- An RCN member and
- A UK registered nurse or midwife
Nursing Associates, student nurses, midwives and healthcare support workers are not eligible to apply for this grant.
How to apply
Please download and complete the application form and return it to grants@rcnfoundation.org.uk.
If you have any questions or cannot access the application form, contact grants@rcnfoundation.org.uk.
Applications are open from 1 October and close at 5pm on 31 October.
Michelle is a black nurse from Liverpool who was employed by NHSE&I Commissioning as a Continuing Healthcare Manager, based in Manchester from May 2017. Michelle, who has been a registered nurse of 25 years, made the decision to blow the whistle on poor practice in her service across the North of England, and decided to submit a grievance which included discrimination by her manager.
Dissatisfied with the way her complaints of racism were handled, and certain she had been mistreated for whistleblowing, Michelle took her employer to industrial tribunal and won a landmark racial discrimination case. She was represented by the Royal College of Nursing.
Determined to create a positive legacy from the devastating impact that the legal battle had on her, Michelle has been working with the RCN Foundation to create an award that aims to support nursing and midwifery staff to tackle racism.
The award highlights the Foundation’s commitment to anti-racism as part of its equity, diversity and inclusion approach.
An annual grant will be made under this scheme which will support a nurse- or midwife-led project which aims to oppose racism and promote racial equality within nursing and midwifery.
The grant is open to registered nurses and midwives from across the UK. Grants of £2,500 will be awarded annually through a competitive process and a panel will decide on the outcome.
Teams of nurses and midwives or individual nurses and midwives can apply.
Applicants need to be:
- A member of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and
-
A UK registered nurse or midwife
Nursing associates, student nurses and midwives, or healthcare/maternity support workers are not eligible to apply for this grant.
Michelle has asked that the grant is restricted to RCN members in recognition of the support they provided to her. The RCN represented her throughout the case.
Whilst it is recognised that tackling racism in the workplace is a very important issue, it is also a very complex issue and therefore very challenging to address. In discussion with Michelle, it was felt that to successfully deliver the types of projects which would be carried out, a level of seniority was required in those awarded funding to implement them.
An expert panel, assembled by the RCN Foundation, will assess each application to shortlist for interviews based on its merits and how it maps to the criteria set out for the award. They will carefully consider how each project has the potential to address structural racism, promote inclusion, and work toward equality within healthcare.
The panel will interview each shortlisted applicant. A list of questions will be sent to the applicants 48 hours prior to their interview date to give them time to prepare their answers. A presentation is not required.
Any nurse or midwife can apply for the award if they meet the criteria.
The launch of the Michelle Cox Anti-Racism Award during Black History Month is a powerful statement. It aligns with the purpose of the award by celebrating the achievements of Black individuals and communities while also addressing and confronting racism that persists in healthcare.
Through this award, Michelle hopes to create a legacy whereby anti-racism is embedded within the everyday practices of the NHS. By doing so, she hopes to erase the pain of exclusion and discrimination experienced by many staff from the Global Majority. Her vision is of an anti-racist workplace where inclusivity and open dialogue thrive.
In accordance with the wishes of the donor, details of the financial support provided to establish this award remain confidential.
For further information or media inquiries about the Michelle Cox Anti-Racism Award, please contact James Alterman, Head of Fundraising and Communications.