Senior NHS and health and social care leaders across the West of England are invited to join a new cohort of the Black Maternity Matters (BMM) Anti‑Racist Leadership Development Programme, running from July to November 2026.
This programme is part of Black Maternity Matters, a cross‑organisational anti‑racism collaborative launched in 2021 to address the racially inequitable outcomes experienced by women, families and babies racialised as Black. The collaborative was established in the West of England to promote safer, more equitable maternity care and to confront disparities linked to racism within the NHS.
Delivered by Representation Matters and BCohCo, with support from Health Innovation West of England and Black Mothers Matter, the initiative combines lived experience, evidence‑based practice and system leadership expertise.
BMM is the only collaborative of its kind in the UK: a nationally recognised, community‑rooted and evidence‑driven movement focused on transforming perinatal anti‑racism, safety and equity.
Participants in previous programmes have described the experience as “eye‑opening”, “life‑changing” and “professionally defining”. The leadership programme is designed specifically for senior leaders with the authority to influence governance, organisational culture and system change across healthcare.
Watch “The need for anti-racist leadership in the NHS” from the Health Innovation West of England Conference 2024 panel discussion.
Over the past three years, more than 100 senior leaders from Integrated Care Boards, NHS Trusts and partner organisations have taken part. Many reported that the programme changed their understanding of leadership, accountability and racialised harm in ways they had not encountered elsewhere.
The 2026 programme is grounded in critical race theory, whiteness theory and critical pedagogy, and is delivered by specialist practitioners with lived experience. Leaders are supported to examine their own identities and influence, challenge organisational norms and develop the confidence and clarity needed to lead anti‑racist change.
The programme combines immersive training, reflective book‑based learning, quality‑improvement action projects and an ongoing community of practice. This approach helps leaders translate insight into measurable organisational transformation.
Participants will also join the wider BMM Collaborative network, gaining access to expert workshops, restorative spaces and continued peer support aimed at sustaining long‑term change across health and social care systems.
Black Maternity Matters was created in response to persistent racial inequalities in maternity and perinatal outcomes. National evidence continues to show that Black women and babies experience poorer outcomes and less safe care than their white counterparts, with racism recognised as a significant contributing factor.
The BMM collaborative’s mission is to reduce the hurt and harm experienced by Black women, families and babies within perinatal systems while helping organisations build cultures of safety, equity and trust.
Who can apply?
This programme is open to senior leaders across healthcare, local authority, social care, universities, and health‑adjacent organisations from within the West of England Region. Eligible applicants include
individuals in strategic or managerial roles, such as directors, heads of departments, chief executives,
senior academics, and system‑influencing leaders, who hold responsibility for shaping policy, culture,
workforce development, or organisational decision‑making. Applicants must be positioned to drive structural and anti‑racist change within their organisation. If you are not sure whether you are eligible, please contact the team on healthinnowest.blackmaternitymatters@nhs.net.
This opportunity is offered at no cost for applicants working within the West of England. If you are from
another region and would like to join this cohort, please contact the BMM team as they can provide you with details of the cost. The times and dates of the course are as follows and participants must attend all dates:
Thursday 16 July 2026, 9:30am – 4:30pm (in person)
Thursday 3 September 2026, 10:00am – 12:00pm (online)
Monday 28 September 2026, 9:30am – 4:30pm (in person)
Wednesday 21 October 2026, 10:00am – 12:00pm (online)
Wednesday 18 November 2026, 9:30am – 4:30pm (in person)
Thursday 10 December 2026, 10:00am – 12:00pm (online)
Find out more about the July – September 2026 BMM Anti‑Racist Leadership Development Programme.
To register your interest, please complete this form.
Posted on June 9, 2026
