“Demonstrating to communities that their voices lead to real change”: Our PCREF Plan
The PCREF community event took place on 01 October 2026 (the first day of Black History Month).
This month (October) is Black History Month 2026, and this year’s theme is “Honouring Our Communities,” recognising the people and places that sustain Black life across Britain.
Across October, we are using our platform to amplify the lived experiences of our colleagues, service users, carers and communities; shining a light on their vital contributions; and highlighting how, together, we are taking action every day to become a safe, inclusive, and anti-racist organisation.
This week, we are shining a spotlight on our Patient, Carer and Race Equality Framework (PCREF), and the people and partners who are working tirelessly to address and reduce racial inequalities across mental health services.
Working together to tackle inequalities
The Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF), is NHS England’s first ever anti-racism framework for mental health care. It provides an overarching structure through which NHS mental services can become fairer, more inclusive and safer for everyone, especially those from racialised communities.
Honouring our communities
On 01 October 2026 (the first day of Black History Month) our PCREF team hosted the “PCREF Community Event: centring racialised voices to shape fairer access, experiences and outcomes in mental health services”.
In the true spirit of this year’s Black History Month theme ‘Honouring our Communities’, the event took place in the heart of Manchester, at the St Thomas Centre in Ardwick Green. It brought together people, partners, teams and members of the community to connect, share experiences, and take action to shape fairer access, experiences and outcomes in mental health services.
The turnout on the day was amazing, with the venue filled to capacity!
The overarching theme for the day was Implementation & Partnership, exploring how, together, we will turn the commitments that we drafted at our last event in April 2026 and are now published in our PCREF Plan, into real change for our communities.
Highlights
Watch back some of the highlights from the day (in less than one minute!) here:
https://youtube.com/shorts/ySw4HtVkbWE?si=9YsHEwIaW370uUEI
Reflections
"People with lived experience are not simply there to share their stories. They bring knowledge, insight and expertise that should be central to how mental health services are designed and delivered using PCREF".
"Trust cannot be built through one event or one conversation. It is built through consistency, transparency and demonstrating to communities that their voices lead to real change, this event is a great start".
One of our Care Group presenters said:
"What we have heard today is that communities want meaningful involvement in shaping services, greater transparency and accountability and tangible improvements in access, experience and outcomes for people from racialised communities. As our care group takes forward their local PCREF plans it is essential that these voices continue to influence how we deliver and measure change".
One attendee said:
"It's great to connect with local charities and VCFSE organisations and their leaders today across Greater Manchester, I will definitely be in touch with them to see how we can work together in partnership".
We are proud to share our PCREF Plan for 2026-2029
Our approach has been shaped through meaningful engagement and co-production with patients, carers, workforce and community partners across Greater Manchester.
We commissioned the Caribbean and African Health Network (CAHN) and its partners, Lingua GM and Jewish Action for Mental Health (JAMH), to undertake community engagement with racially marginalised communities across our Trust footprint.
In May 2026, the findings were published in the PCREF Community Engagement Report, alongside our PCREF Plan for 2026-2029 that was informed by it.
Through the PCREF Plan, we are committed to:
Becoming a consistently anti-racist organisation, where inequalities are actively identified and addressed in partnership with people with lived experience from racialised communities.
- Strengthening leadership accountability and governance for race equity.
- Ensuring services are equitable, accessible, culturally responsive and co-produced with the communities we serve.
- Building relationships and trust with the communities we serve by listening to their feedback and delivering outcomes.
- Improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities experienced by racially marginalised communities.
Watch the video below to hear more about this work directly from our PCREF team.
Get involved
Honey Ogunleye, GMMH Patient and Carer Race Equality Lead, speaking at the community event
More news this week
No Space for Racism in Health and Care – Greater Manchester Takes a Stand this Black History Month
The Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership (GM ICP), which brings together all the health and social care services, local councils and community organisations across Greater Manchester, has launched the second phase of its anti-racism campaign.
This phase includes the second in a series of powerful videos featuring staff working across the NHS and social care. It has been launched in October to recognise Black History month and reinforce a clear message: there is no space for racism in health and care – anywhere.
The video highlights how racism affects people and supports members of the public and staff to feel confident to speak up, report incidents and support anyone affected.
Around 1 in 4 health and care staff in Greater Manchester have reported that they have experienced racism at work in the past year. This includes racist words, insults, being ignored or left out, being threatened and sometimes even violence. This behaviour is coming from the patients they are trying to care for, patients’ family and friends and even other members of staff.
To support people affected by racism, we are asking members of the public to become active bystanders. Even small actions can make a difference. Step in if it’s safe to do so, check in with the person affected, report it – all of these send a clear message – racism is not okay.
Claudette Elliot, Chair of Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, and co-chair of the GM Health and Care Anti-Racism Programme Board, said: “Our new campaign video offers practical advice on what you can do if you see or hear racist behaviour.
“Responding can feel difficult, and nobody is expected to manage the situation alone. But small actions can make a difference: if it is safe, you could speak up, check in with the person affected, record what happened where appropriate, report it and offer support afterwards. If something does not feel right, you can seek advice and support.
“Black History Month is a time to recognise, celebrate and reflect on the contributions of Black people, past and present. It is also an opportunity for all of us to strengthen our commitment to lasting change. By listening to different experiences, speaking up and acting together, we can help make health and care across Greater Manchester respectful, inclusive and safe for everyone.”
Find out more here: No Space for Racism. In health and care. Anywhere.
