Based on meetings this morning: You are not lazy, you are exhausted. You are not weak, you're ground down. You are not grumpy, you are trying to process frustration that has no proper outlet. You are not resisting change, you are trying to regain stability. Be kind to yourself.

Black women saying NO this year is the anthem for 2021.

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE! Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP has secured a 90-minute Westminster Hall debate next Tuesday (14th Sept at 9:30) for Black Maternal Health Awareness Week. The link to watch live will be released on the morning of Tuesday 14th Sep. Please follow us for all the updates.

This week is Black Maternal Health Awareness Week. I'm supporting Fivexmore_ campaign for action to address racial disparities in maternity care. Black women are four times more likely to die in pregnancy & childbirth. This must change. #BMHAW21

Caroline Rennalls, Head of Capacity and Resilience at SWB NHS Trust, tells us what it's like being an assertive, black female in the NHS. She calls for "a real review about recruitment, retention and the development of BAME staff" in the #NHS. womeninthenhs.co.uk/post/caroline-…

We cannot tackle health inequalities without dealing with racism in healthcare. The evidence is stark. Throughout the whole life cycle racism has a negative impact. theguardian.com/society/2022/f…

It’s April Advocacy Month at Five X More. April Advocacy Month is about sharing and highlighting organisations that support women, birthing people and their partners. We will be promoting self-advocacy, individual advocacy and systems advocacy in a number of different ways!

‘Hard to reach’. ‘Refuses to engage’. ‘Frequent flyers’. ‘Carer breakdown’. ‘Bed blockers’. ‘Challenging behaviour’. ‘Non-compliant’. ‘Complex’. ‘Difficult’. Vulnerable’. **New blog** - Words that blame #LanguageMatters #RewritingSocialCare rewritingsocialcare.blog/2022/04/23/bla…

Happy International Youth Day from everyone at My Life My Say ✊🏼✊🏾

And... With Sylvia Owusu-Nepaul who was alongside fir early career solidarity & great to be working with her again as lead midwife for equity in our LMNS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System 🤰🏿and our lead data analyst too, all 3 winners for the work they do 👏👏👏

Thank you to Rachel Carter 💜 for the nomination that made Ranjana Basra and Sylvia Owusu-Nepaul winners of the making a difference outstanding contribution award for our contribution to equity and diversity #believe #Midwife #equity #Diversity

Feeling proud

Fantastic Q&A with Professor Louise Owusu-Kwarteng. I Ioved her honesty. How do we create a kind workplace? We need mentors, VCs & PVCs who nurture a kind environment, and networks 'to bring us up' says Louise. #REDSconf2022 Centre for Higher Education Practice (CHEP) The Doctoral College

The Spanish Government has now announced that train journeys will be free on short and medium journeys until the end of 2023 to help with the cost of living crisis. And it's pushing ahead with a Windfall Tax on the profits of banks. Let's fight for that here too!

Evil heartless government. theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/j…

I am pleased to see that momentum for a 4-day week continues to grow. The evidence is clear: a reduction in hours boosts productivity & improves wellbeing. As we said in our 2019 manifesto, "time off to rest, relax and be with family is essential to a happy & fulfilling life."

It was a pleasure to be invited to Parliament last week, celebrating #IWD2023. We discussed how to address health inequalities within maternity care.

NEW: A Black schoolgirl, 13, spent two days in isolation because of an "inappropriate hairstyle", her mum said. Mayla's mother, Kerry, accused Barr Beacon School in Walsall, Midlands, of racial discrimination & said her daughter was singled out.

Culturally competent genetic services Bsol LMNS delivering key achievements of the service rajeshree Natasha Walker