Race, migration, and organising in health and social care
A continuous learning and development (CL&D) event for RCN representatives in Northern, North West and Yorkshire & the Humber regions
21 Sep 2026, 10:00 - 16:00
Choose event information:
All RCN representatives in Northern, North West and Yorkshire & the Humber regions are invited to join us for this continuous learning and development (CL&D) event.
Internationally educated staff make up 25% of the UK's nursing workforce. Despite the skills and experience they bring, internationally educated nurses (IENs) are more likely to be appointed at the bottom of Band 5, regardless of their previous experience either in their home country or elsewhere. They also tend to spend longer in lower bands and are less likely to progress to senior roles than their white colleagues.
The challenges faced by IENs go beyond career progression. At a time of rising racism and hostility towards migrant communities, nursing staff of colour are increasingly experiencing discrimination, harassment, and even violence at work.
These experiences are made more difficult by an increasingly restrictive immigration system. Immigration policy affects many aspects of people's lives and careers. It can hold RCN members back professionally while also leading to worse outcomes for patients and society as a whole.
This one-day CL&D event will explore the connections between race, migration, and staffing pressures. Through discussion, learning, and practical examples, members will gain a deeper understanding of these issues, learn about their rights, and build confidence to organise and take action in their workplaces.
Why attend?
This event is for RCN representatives in our Northern, North West, and Yorkshire and Humber regions.
The event will:
- Provide specialist organising training with Migrants Organise
- Introduce participants to equalities campaigning and activism within the RCN
- Present frontline, cutting edge research on workers’ experiences of the Health and Care Worker Visa
- Show how our Know Your Worth campaign to re-band the NHS workforce is an equalities issue.
By the end of the session, you will be able to:
- Understand how funding structures in health and social care affect staffing and international recruitment
- Connect histories of immigration control to histories of race and racism in the UK
- Understand how the hostile environment impacts patients and service users in the NHS and adult social care.
Book your place
This event will take place in the RCN Bolton Office.
To register, please click on the 'book your place online' button above, or call the RCN Events Registration team on 02920 546 460 referencing event number '6217'.
As this event forms part of our CL&D programme for RCN representatives, your rail travel can be booked and funded by the RCN. After you have registered for this event, please contact your regional team to request rail travel:
- North West region: joanne.maguire@rcn.org.uk / angela.delvard@rcn.org.uk
- Northern region: mandy.clark@rcn.org.uk
- Yorkshire & the Humber region: yhregionaladmin@rcn.org.uk
Not yet an RCN rep?
This webinar is restricted to RCN representatives (reps). If you're not a rep, why not consider becoming one? Being a rep gives you the chance to make a real difference to your patients, the working lives of yourself and your colleagues - and even the future of nursing. Find out more about becoming a rep.
If you have any questions about this event, please contact:
RCN Yorkshire & the Humber regional team
yorkshire.andhumberregion@rcn.org.uk
Royal College of Nursing North West
Fifth floor
120 Bark Street
Bolton
BL1 2AX
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Page last updated - 27/08/2026
