South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) is celebrated annually from July 18 to August 17. The month aims to commemorate and celebrate South Asian cultures, histories, and communities, fostering an understanding of the diverse heritage that connects the UK with South Asia. The theme for this year is ‘Roots to Routes’ which highlights the journey of South Asian heritage, and the connections forged across generations. 

To mark the the month, the Global Majority Network at NELFT teamed up with Unison to hold an event to celebrate, share knowledge and contributions from the community. The event was hosted by Richardson Allen, Quality Governance Manager and Global Majority Network Co-Chair. 

Wellington Makala, Chief Nursing Officer opened the event saying: 

“It’s a real privilege to be here today to mark South Asian Heritage Month — a time for celebration, reflection, and most importantly, recognition. As Chief Nurse, I want to begin by offering my deepest thanks to all of our incredible staff from South Asian backgrounds. Your contributions — not only to our nursing and clinical services, but across every corner of our organisation — are simply invaluable.” 

Speakers included Joseph Lindo, Integrated Care Director for Acute and Rehabilitation Directorate who provided a talk on ‘Why do we celebrate South Asian Heritage Month?’. Harjit Bansal, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion presented ‘the Importance and the History of South Asian Heritage Month’, followed by a tribute to Ilford resident, Fauja Singh, the world's oldest marathon runner, who recently passed away in a road accident at the age of 114.  

The event also featured an array of activities including a henna stand, a cultural clothing booth with live demonstrations, and a Unison information stall. South Asian artwork created by service users was on display, and guests enjoyed a variety of traditional South Asian cuisine.