Dedicated to providing meaningful support for those who protect and care for our nation, Friends of Serve and Protect reinvests in the community of those who Serve and Protect through the Credit Unon Member Lottery. Funds create opportunities for professional growth and personal wellbeing – such as its recent grant towards the first Filipino career development conference in the Northeast, run by Filipino Nurses Association UK.
A landmark initiative for the Northeast
The healthcare landscape benefits from the dedication of a diverse workforce, which means that professional development tailored to specific community needs is often needed to empower individuals. The Filipino community represents a vital pillar of this landscape, contributing significantly to the resilience and expertise of the NHS and private healthcare sectors across the UK.
The Friends of Serve and Protect Community Fund recognises that supporting these professionals is not just about thanking them for their service, but about investing in their future. The Filipino Nurses career development conference is centred around empowering healthcare workers by giving them the tools and the confidence to lead within their respective fields, enhancing professional skills and fostering a sense of belonging.
Empowering the healthcare frontline
This initiative was a response to the unique challenges faced by healthcare professionals from global majority background. Whilst they bring world-class clinical skills, navigating the specific career pathways and leadership structures within the UK system can prove complex. The conference ensured that participants felt seen, heard, and valued across the various departments.
More than 50 participants attended the sessions, which were designed to provide practical strategies for career progression. In the words of Mayflor Bernal, Northeast Regional Director of the Filipino Nurses Association, the group left “feeling more equipped to face challenges and motivated to pursue leadership roles in their respective fields.”
Leadership for the next generation of leaders
he atmosphere was one of collaboration and mutual support. It helped bridge the gap between medical specialisms and cultures, focusing on professional skills alongside a sense of community to provide an engaging, employee-focussed approach to workplace wellbeing.
Attendees left the conference feeling more equipped to face the daily challenges of their roles. It is hoped that sessions will have provided the necessary confidence and spark to pursue leadership positions so that the next generation of healthcare managers reflects the diversity of the teams they lead.
The Filipino Nurses Association runs regular events that encourage Filipino career development in the nursing profession. Attendees can earn CPD points, benefit from interview skills workshops and inspirational talks, and gain opportunities to network with likeminded individuals.
About The Filipino Nurses Association
The Filipino Nurses Association was founded in 2020 to provide a forum for Filipino nurses in the UK to network and discuss issues of collective interest that impact them, as well as signposting individual members to the right place should they have specific issues that need to be addressed. FNA-UK welcomes every Filipino nurse from the different regions of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland of whatever gender, religion, faith, or sexual orientation. Members work in the NHS, social and private care sectors, research, academia and as private nurse entrepreneurs.
It is a not for profit, apolitical and family-oriented community organisation registered as a Community Interest Company (CIC) with registration number 12713655. For more information, click here.
About the Friends of Serve and Protect Community Fund
Friends of Serve and Protect is an incorporated association established for the benefit of individuals, organisations and communities served by Serve and Protect Credit Union. Funded by the Friends of Serve and Protect Lottery, Reg No – 4866, the Community Fund was established in 2024 to provide funding for projects and initiatives that support the greater community good of those who Serve and Protect. From wellbeing spaces to helping injured keyworkers through rehabilitation, the Community Fund helps make a difference to those who need it.
Funding is open to Serve and Protect members and must be for the direct benefit of the Serve and Protect community. For more information, click here.
