Where are you really from?
The question “Where are you really from?” is something people of BAME origin are often asked by those they meet for the first time. For those working in the NHS, this is a frequent occurrence. The NHS employs more than 1.4 million people of which around 20% (one in five) are from Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups. As a result, the NHS represents a diverse group of employees – many of whom have come from all across the world to work for the NHS and offer their skills to our country. This website and project are to honour the ethnic diversity of the NHS.


What is it about?
The main aim of the project is to highlight the contribution BAME staff make to the NHS by inviting them to tell us their stories. Another aim is to use these stories to provide positive BAME role models to inspire and encourage future generations to consider careers within the NHS.
We are planning to compile these stories and photographs into a beautiful book. We hope that any profits from the sales of the book will go back into the NHS to support staff welfare via registered charities. Please consider contributing through our crowd funding page.
Meet the team
We have put together a project team to take the concept as an idea and to turn it into reality through their passion, commitment and love for the NHS.
Founder: Dr Chet TRivedy
Chet is a consultant in Emergency Medicine at Brighton and Sussex University Hospital and a Senior Lecturer in Emergency and Resuscitation Care at QMUL.
AUTHOR & editor: Joy Persaud
Joy is an award-winning journalist and editor who will be providing the editorial support for the book and project.
Senior engagement advisor: Kulwant Singh Sehmi
Kulwant (known as ‘Sehmi’) has been working in the NHS for over 51 years. He brings with him a vast experience of the organisation. He will have the key role of being the engagement lead for the project.
Photo editor: Ash Hirani
Ash is a pharmacist and a professional photographer who runs his own successful chocolate company in his spare time. He will be responsible for collating and editing the photographs.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion lead: Ketan Davé
Ketan joins the team as our senior D&I adviser and has over 20 years of experience working in this field.
Meet our patrons

Isa Guha

Jofra Archer

Sanjeev Bhaskar

Ainsley Harriott
