Reflecting on Black History Month: A Message from the HM Lord-Lieutenant

October marked Black History Month 2025, a time to celebrate the achievements, contributions, and heritage of Black communities, while also reflecting on the work still needed to create equitable and inclusive workplaces. This year’s theme, “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” encouraged everyone to consider not only structural and organisational needs, but also the personal development and resilience required to thrive in our careers and lives.

YMCA Heart of England recently received a letter from the HM Lord-Lieutenant, recognising the important work carried out by local organisations and communities across the region. The letter highlights the dedication, service, and impact of initiatives that support individuals and families, particularly those that promote inclusion, wellbeing, and community development.

Find the full message below:

“This years Black History Month theme is “Standing firm in power and pride.” This is a call to action, requiring us to focus on the business processes, structural and organisational changes needed to ensure a level playing field in recruitment, career progression and retention in the workplace. It also speaks to the need for foresight, resilience and integrity in both leadership and staff while on the journey to creating a positive work environment. These things are important but do not in themselves address the fundamental issue of how to help staff not just survive but grow and flourish throughout their career. Given my professional background I’d like to develop this ‘survive and grow’ theme by sharing my experiences and strategies for building resilience and leadership qualities.

My credentials and experience were built learning from the great leaders I have worked with and known over 5 decades of public service. The core of my messages to you are rooted in ‘mantras’.  Mantras which will hopefully provide you with guide-rails for action. I also hope my thoughts will resonate, as you deal with personal development issues, now and in the future. If you choose to follow my guidance, you must adapt some of my learning points and remember that “life is not about following dogmas but flexing and adapting to meet the challenges you face on a day-to-day, week to week, and year on year basis”.

Let’s start with the issue of your purpose in work and in life. “Knowing why you do what you do in work and life is far more important than chasing any superficial indicator of success created by someone else.” Purpose should be your fundamental reason for getting up each morning and your existence in life. “Your purpose should always be underscored by core values and ethical considerations.” Values and ethics should inform the kinds of people and organisations you work for and with. They should be your everyday guide rail. Always remember that “success without purpose or soul corrodes your ‘personal brand’ and in the long term it does the same to your reputation.”

My own core values and ethics have kept me sane, as well as safe, for decades. Fairness, respect, equality, service and honesty have always been values at the centre of the way in which I conduct business and relate to others. The interesting thing is that through leading by example, these values have often permeated the consciousness of every organisation I’ve led and ultimately become the dominant values in service culture. I’ve also learned that in most instances staff intuitively behave the way in which they see their leaders carry themselves and project their values and ethics – “Such is the power of doing the right things, at the right time, with the right people, in the right way.”

 Think about which values are central to your personal circumstances and focus on those values which are the roots of your heritage and background. Remember this because “If you forget your heritage, you risk losing your core ‘self’ and ‘soul’.” However, while standing firm in relation to your values, you must also learn to cultivate ‘adaptability and curiosity’.  Learn to play the long game, for “it is not the strongest or the smartest that succeed in the world of work, but those who can best adapt without losing sight of purpose and values”. If you follow this mantra then the world of work will surprise you with opportunities and you will learn to navigate change and harness it to your advantage. Furthermore, you will learn resilience and how to stand firm when the winds of change blow at their hardest.

To keep up professional momentum, you must keep moving, never stop learning. One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is to never give up on ‘lifelong learning’. Try to become a curious learner – a future focused learner. “Learn, unlearn and if necessary, re-learn to remain at the frontier of best practise with pride and resolve.” This is how you get ahead of unforeseen challenges and individuals who may try to undermine your career prospects and progress.

Finally. Remember “the cemetery is full of indispensable people.” Find the right balance between Ambition and well-being. You cannot stand firm in power without health, strength, happiness and positive human relationships. Long term success as a leader in any organisation should be rooted in demanding work but also enjoyment and job satisfaction. Your personal well-being has a direct impact on your career and on those around you.

 Be authentic in your leadership and relationships. Find ways of enjoying your career journey and reflect this joy in your home, play and lifestyle more generally.

All the best for a great future.

Derrick Anderson. CBE.

HM Lord-Lieutenant for the West Midlands.”

We would like to thank HM the Lord-Lieutenant for the West Midlands for taking the time to write this message for everyone in the YMCA – Heart of England community.