International Women’s Day 2026 - how women are giving back at NCH&C
Yesterday, Sunday 8 March, was International Women's Day (IWD). A day that has been around for more than 100 years and celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
Over three-quarters of NHS staff in England are women, yet they still face barriers in leadership, career progression, and workplace equality. IWD provides a structured moment to reflect, celebrate, and push for improvement.
This year's theme is 'Give to Gain', encouraging a mindset of generosity and collaboration. Giving is not a subtraction from anyone else; it's intentional multiplication.
Giving can mean many things, including mentoring or supporting women in your workplace, celebrating women's achievements, challenging stereotypes, supporting women-focused services, and much more.
Here we are sharing stories of women across our organisation who are giving back and using their voices for positive change.
Lesley Luscher, Unison Branch Secretary, completed a charity skydive and fundraised valuable donations for our NCH&C Charitable Fund.
I've always believed that strong negotiating skills are essential in my role, so I decided to put them to good use by collecting sponsorship. As a mother of three and, as of last year, a very proud Nana, I wanted to prove to myself that I still have the drive to do something bold for a meaningful cause.
Most of us have experienced having a loved one in hospital, and we know how lonely and vulnerable that can feel. If even a small part of the sponsorship I raised helps reduce that loneliness, then jumping out of a plane was absolutely worth it.
As Branch Secretary for UNISON, I'm proud to represent members from so many different backgrounds. I believe everyone deserves a space to pause, reflect, and take a moment for themselves. That's why I'm especially pleased that some of the funds raised have supported the creation of a multi-faith room at Norwich Community Hospital, a resource that will benefit staff, patients, and families alike.
Click here for more information about the NCH&C Charitable Fund.
Vicky Brooke, Associate Director of Communications, Marketing & Engagement, gives back to the community through her work with Baby Bank Norfolk.
I'm a founding trustee of Baby Bank Norfolk, which over the last ten years, has supported thousands of families through some of their toughest moments.
Baby banks thrive on collaboration: bringing together volunteers, donors, and other charities and organisations to meet the needs of local families. We are completely reliant on the goodwill of strangers and the team of women who volunteer for our grassroots charity.
Once a month, I spend a few hours at our Norwich storage facility packing bespoke referral bundles for families. It's often confronting. Not having the basics for your newborn must feel frightening. It's such a vulnerable and significant time in a woman's life. The reasons people need baby banks are complex and varied and the truth is any one of us could find ourselves in crisis if life suddenly turns. Challenging the stereotypes around who uses our service is something I'm very committed to.
I also help raise the profile of Baby Bank Norfolk and contribute to the wider conversation about why baby banks exist at all. Because they shouldn't have to. No child in a wealthy country should grow up in poverty. No parent should have to rely on charity for nappies or a safe place for their baby to sleep. My motivation comes from wanting to raise the voices of those challenging systemic issues that have pushed 4.5 million children in the UK into poverty, nearly half of them under the age of four. Behind every statistic is a family making impossible choices: food or nappies, heating or clothes.
As we mark a decade of this currently essential service, I'm determined to help ensure Baby Bank Norfolk continues to be more inclusive, welcoming a broader range of voices and experiences. Collaboration across every background is key to meeting the needs of the families we support.
If you know a family who needs our help, you can sign up as a referrer here and submit a referral. Please email hello@babybanknorfolk.co.uk. You can also sign up as a volunteer with Baby Bank Norfolk using the same email address.
Mercy Kaggwa, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisor, is a Level 5 coaching apprentice, helping others to achieve personal success.
In a workplace shaped by talent and determination, coaching becomes a powerful space for reflection and growth, and that reflective discipline shapes the way I show up for the people I work with. As a woman coach working within a women dominated organisation, I see every day how transformative it is when people are given the time and freedom to think for themselves, explore their ambitions and reconnect with their strengths.
Many women come to coaching unsure of how their identity fits into their leadership journey. Others feel held back by the very things that make them different. Coaching allows us to explore these experiences safely and honestly, reframing diversity as a source of strength rather than limitation.
Respect underpins everything I do; respect for yourself, for others and for the environment you're trying to grow within. Coaching is a space of equality and fairness, where whatever you bring into the room is met without judgement. Together, we work to dismantle the barriers that stand between you and your potential.
Since 2021, I've worked as the trust's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisor, and along the way I've trained as a Mental Health First Aider, become a menopause advocate and taken on the role of Armed Forces Champion. I've completed the Norfolk and Waveney ICS Positive Action Leaders Programme and NHS Employers OD Essentials, all of which deepen my understanding of people and the systems they work within. This background shapes the way I coach and deepens my understanding of the challenges individuals face. On this International Women's Day, I'm reminded of the courage it takes for women to invest in themselves.
To find out more about the Trust's coaching programme, click here.
In addition to their job roles in career development, Pippa Bennett and Carrie Stroud also support the Trust as Mental Health First Aid instructors.
Being a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructor is a privilege for me. MHFAiders support colleagues in our organisation when they are experiencing poor mental health. The goal of an MHFAider is to provide immediate support and to signpost onto appropriate health professionals or alternative sources of support, much like a physical first aider would do. MHFAiders are not trained counsellors but have been trained to listen without judgement and to provide a confidential space for you to talk.
As an instructor I support people in our organisation to become mental health first aiders, through training and through regular supervision sessions throughout the year. As a peri-menopausal woman it feels important to me to acknowledge how perimenopause and menopause can affect our mental health, increasing anxiety, symptoms of depression and feelings of overwhelm. Women are also statistically more likely to care for others at home, with 60-70% of unpaid care givers being female. This can lead to greater pressures on work and home life as well as the grief that can come from an 'empty nest' or a loved one dying, releasing the role of being a carer and feeling at a loss.
I am a firm believer in 'what we name, we tame' so having a number of MHFAiders in the organisations increases our opportunities to talk to someone who can support us.
As a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructor, I support colleagues to become Mental Health First Aiders by delivering training and providing regular supervision sessions throughout the year. On International Women's Day, the role of a female MHFA instructor within the NHS takes on an added significance. In a healthcare system where staff are 50% more likely to experience chronic stress than the general population, we are not just trainers; we help create a more compassionate workplace culture.
As an instructor, I aim to equip colleagues with the skills and confidence to recognise early signs of mental ill-health and provide immediate, non-judgmental support. For women in the NHS, who often balance demanding roles with significant caregiving responsibilities at home, having a female lead in these conversations can be transformative.
Being an instructor is also about modelling self-care. I was drawn to the role through my passion for creating "safe spaces" where staff feel seen, heard, and valued, essential for both mental wellbeing and patient safety. On International Women's Day, this work celebrates the collective effort to ensure that every member of the NHS "family" can bring their whole self to work.
By training the next generation of MHFAiders, female instructors are ensuring the NHS remains a place where compassion and humanity are at the heart of staff support, just as they are at the heart of patient care.
Sarah Buchan, Chief Information Officer, challenges stereotypes with her work in a male-dominated sector and her time in the Royal Navy.
As Chief Information Officer for our organisation, I lead our digital, data and technology teams, supporting everything from frontline clinical systems and cyber security to digital innovation, AI, and the integration work as our two trusts come together.
My role is all about enabling our staff with the right digital tools, making services more efficient, improving patient care through technology, and building a strong digital culture across our organisations. No two days are ever the same, which is exactly why I love it.
Outside of work, sport has always been a big part of my life, and I'm fortunate to still compete at an international level. Last year I took part in the Swimming World Championships in Singapore, which was an incredible experience and a real reminder of how much I love the sport. I also compete in Ironman events, and I'm proud to have previously qualified for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.
Sport gives me so much personally and professionally. It keeps me focused, disciplined and resilient, and the structure of training helps me manage my own wellbeing, physically and mentally. That balance is essential in a demanding role, because looking after my own wellbeing means I'm better able to support others, make good decisions and lead with clarity.
It also reinforces qualities I rely on every day at work: perseverance, calmness under pressure, goal setting, and the importance of continuous improvement. Competing teaches you that progress is rarely linear, setbacks (and injuries) are part of the journey, and success comes from consistency and teamwork. All lessons that translate directly into how I lead digital services across our organisations.
Above all, sport reminds me of the value of community. Whether it's teammates, coaches, or fellow competitors, you gain so much by giving your time, sharing learning and encouraging others.
My time in the Royal Navy as an engineer has shaped a huge part of who I am professionally. The experience has translated directly and powerfully into my NHS career. It gave me a deep understanding of resilience, accountability, and operating under pressure. I also learned the importance of clear leadership, teamwork, and calmness in high stakes situations, skills I draw on daily.
Digital and technology are still male dominated sectors nationally, but I believe that the NHS has an enormous opportunity to lead the way in creating pathways for women into senior digital roles.
I have learned the importance of celebrating the strengths women bring. Digital leadership isn't only about tech. It's about empathy, communication, problem solving, partnership working, and resilience, all areas where diverse leadership strengthens outcomes. By recognising this openly, we encourage more women to see themselves in these roles.
Ultimately, the NHS thrives when its leadership reflects the people it serves. Creating more opportunities for women in digital isn't just about fairness it directly improves how we design services, support staff, and deliver care.