What it means to be an ally

Some months ago our Chief People Officer was seeking executive sponsorship for our Equality Diversity and Inclusion groups. Having developed an interest in understanding microaggressions and, with an interest in understanding ‘allyship’, I was keen to put myself forward for our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) staff network.

NHS England/NHS Improvement (2021a) discussed the opportunities of allyship, such as the potential for improving workplace culture, which ultimately impacts on patient care. It described allyship as ‘finding someone who believes in you, who can lift you up and create beneficial opportunity’. The concept of allyship is about building relationships of trust, consistency and accountability with marginalised individuals and/or groups of people. It is suggested that, although as an ally one might not be a member of an underinvested or oppressed group, one can support, and make the effort to understand the challenges, including using one's voice alongside theirs (NHS England/NHS Improvement, 2021b).