NEAS Signs Anti-Racism Pledge, Actions Due in 12 Months

North East Ambulance Service (NEAS), which takes every 999 and NHS 111 call made in North Tyneside, has signed the Become the Bridge Anti-Racism Pledge. By signing, the trust has committed to drawing up practical anti-racism actions within 12 months and monitoring how it gets on.

The pledge was signed on Thursday 29 October, the trust said on 2 November. Become the Bridge is run by the North East Anti-Racism Coalition (NEARC). It brings organisations from across the region together to share experience, learn from each other and take practical steps against racism in their own systems and practices. Members agree to work together, share what they learn where it is appropriate, and set their own actions inside a year.

What signing commits NEAS to

The trust says the pledge is about two things: how its own staff are treated at work, and the care it gives to patients from every background. It frames the commitment as listening to colleagues, understanding what they have experienced and making sure people feel respected and supported, alongside its duty to provide “compassionate, inclusive care” to the communities it serves.

The board signed on the day reads: “We commit to challenging racism together for a fairer, stronger North East.”

Kev Scollay, the chief executive, said: “Signing the Become the Bridge pledge is an important step in reaffirming our commitment to building a workplace where everyone feels they belong, is respected and has the opportunity to thrive.

“We know that signing a pledge is only the beginning. We must be prepared to listen to our colleagues, learn from their experiences and challenge racism wherever it occurs. That means turning our commitments into meaningful action and being accountable for the progress we make.

“Everyone at NEAS has a role to play in creating an inclusive culture, and I want us to continue working together to ensure that respect, fairness and equality are reflected in everything we do.”

The patient side

Loveness Scott, the trust’s positive action lead, works directly with ethnic minority communities across the North East to support engagement and tackle barriers to inclusion. She said: “Through my work with ethnic minority communities across the North East, I see how important it is that people feel listened to, respected and confident that their experiences matter.

“Signing the Become the Bridge pledge is not just a commitment to our colleagues; it is also a commitment to our patients and the communities we serve. Everyone deserves to receive care that is compassionate, respectful and inclusive, regardless of their background.

“We have a responsibility to understand the barriers people may face, challenge discrimination and build trust with the communities who rely on us. This pledge gives us an opportunity to strengthen that commitment and ensure our actions reflect the values we want people to experience when they come into contact with NEAS.”

What the staff network has already done

The pledge builds on work by Together@NEAS, the trust’s network for ethnically diverse colleagues, colleagues of faith and their allies. It is one of six staff networks at the service, which between them support more than 3,700 colleagues, according to the trust.

NEAS says the network has:

• helped write the trust’s Hate Crime Guide, which explains what hate crime is, how colleagues can report an incident and what support is available;
• given welfare support to ethnically diverse colleagues during the public disorder of 2024;
• advised managers on race equality and culturally sensitive matters;
• helped shape trust policies and practice.

Paul Nicholson, the network’s executive champion, said: “Together@NEAS exists to make sure the voices and experiences of our ethnically diverse colleagues, colleagues of faith and allies are heard, understood and considered in the decisions that affect them.

“Signing the Become the Bridge pledge is important because it reinforces the need to move beyond good intentions and turn listening into action. We want colleagues to feel confident that their experiences will be taken seriously, that their voices can influence change and that they can be themselves at work without fear of discrimination.

“We hope this commitment will help us build on the work already underway, strengthen accountability and create a more inclusive organisation for colleagues and the communities we serve.”

The coalition’s view

Nitin Shukla, a trustee of the North East Anti-Racism Coalition, said: “We are delighted to welcome the North East Ambulance Service to Become the Bridge. NEAS cares for every community across our region, so its commitment to tackling racism, both within its workforce and in the care it provides, sends a powerful message. We look forward to working alongside colleagues at NEAS to turn this pledge into lasting action, building a North East where everyone is treated fairly and feels they truly belong.”

What to watch for

The test is the 12-month deadline: by late October 2027 NEAS should have set out its practical actions under the pledge. The trust says it will keep listening to staff and looking for places to improve in the meantime.

NEAS covers 3,230 square miles, employs more than 3,600 staff and serves 2.7 million people from 61 stations and three emergency operations centres. In 2025/26 it answered more than 1.475 million 999 and NHS 111 calls, according to the trust. Anyone with a question for the service can contact public.relations@neas.nhs.uk.

Last month the trust was awarded Gold in the TIDE inclusion benchmark; see our report, NEAS wins TIDE Gold for inclusion.