A new initiative has been introduced by an NHS trust to combat racism and advance equity.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust aims to become an anti-racist organisation through a comprehensive action plan addressing the impact of racism on staff, patients, and communities.
The trust launched in October 2024 to provide a wide range of community, mental health and learning disability services for people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Anna Rowen, director of people and culture at the trust, said: "The data is clear; racism is harming our staff and our communities, and we cannot and will not look away.
"From the disproportionate detaining of Black and minority ethnic individuals to the normalisation of racial abuse in the workplace, the evidence demands action.
"We are taking bold, measurable steps to dismantle these injustices and build a trust where equity, dignity, and safety are non-negotiable for everyone.
"This is not just a campaign; it's a cultural transformation."
The action plan was co-developed with input from 1,500 staff and more than 500 people from across the region, including service users, carers, faith leaders, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, young people, and individuals with disabilities and mental health conditions.
The trust's board has publicly stated its stance.
It said: "We are committed to being an anti-racist trust.
"We have zero tolerance for racism in any form towards our staff, patients, or the communities we serve.
"Everyone has the right to feel safe, respected, and valued.
"We are taking active steps to challenge discrimination, remove barriers, and build an inclusive culture where diversity is celebrated, and equity is at the heart of everything we do."
Workshops and surveys led by the trust's engagement team helped identify nine areas of focus, including leadership and governance; partnership working; data-driven improvement; and workforce diversity and inclusion.
The plan also encourages staff and service users to report incidents of racism, raise awareness among peers and patients, and take part in race equality staff networks and allyship workshops.
Chief executive Ron Shields said: "This is a defining moment for our organisation.
"We are moving beyond recognising inequality, we are actively dismantling it.
"With courage, clarity, and collective responsibility, we are embedding anti-racism into the very fabric of our trust not as a one-off initiative, but as a permanent, measurable commitment to justice and equity."