About the Project
To mark Black History Month in 2020, the NHS in London revealed 36 prominent individuals it had chosen to be ‘the faces’ of its NHS trusts in the capital. For 2021, the NHS in London is encouraging staff to share their own stories and those of colleagues, both past and present, via the online gallery.
The aim of this is to recognise the contribution of NHS staff from black backgrounds, as well as celebrate black Londoners as a whole. We hope this will help generate positive conversations within our staff and communities of the incredible impact of black people to society, whilst acknowledging the barriers black people face today.
Explore the interactive map by clicking on each pin to read the stories of each highlighted person. You can also show your support by uploading to our online gallery.
Years of NHS
NHS Trusts
Year of Celebrating
NHS England & NHS Improvement
NHS Improvement is responsible for overseeing NHS foundation trusts, NHS trusts and independent providers, helping them give patients consistently safe, high quality, compassionate care within local health systems that are financially sustainable. NHS Improvement works with the Department of Health and Social Care. From 1 April 2019, NHS England and NHS Improvement have been working together as a new single organisation to better support the NHS to deliver improved care for patients.
The People’s Picture
The People’s Picture is a photography and design studio from British artist Helen Marshall. We specialise in interactive and inclusive artworks that are accessible to all.
As an artist-led studio practice we create innovative photo mosaic artworks and installations at the leading edge of design and technology. Pictures are powerful. People connect with pictures. People share their memories, dreams and celebrate through pictures.
We are experts in visual storytelling, digital photo mosaics and bringing communities together to create, celebrate and own their unique legacy.
Earlier this year, The People’s Picture worked with the NHS to create a giant digital rainbow, made up of thousands of NHS staff, keyworkers, and carers, alongside drawings of rainbows in the windows of UK homes. ‘Rainbows for the NHS’ was exhibited on the London Piccadilly screens as a symbol of hope during the covid-19 pandemic.
Images from ‘Our Story: Portraits of Change’, Washington D.C. Union Station
Kerry Hyndman
Kerry is a South East London-based illustrator and map-maker. She produces a wide range of illustrations for commercial, advertising and editorial clients as well as illustration for Children books. Her first two children’s books were published in 2016 – ‘Coming Home’ by Michael Morpurgo and ‘Survivors’ by David Long followed by ‘Heroes’ in 2018 and ‘Rescue’ in 2019.
“Survivors won the 2017 Blue Peter book award which meant as well as making a brief appearance on the telly I’m now the proud owner of a long coveted Blue Peter Badge!”
To view more of Kerry’s illustrated maps, visit her website: kerryhyndman.co.uk
Rainbows for the NHS
‘Rainbows for the NHS’ is a giant interactive ‘mosaic of hope’, made up of thousands of pictures and stories, submitted to the People’s Picture during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can explore the mosaic and the many lives of the NHS, key workers, carers and people from across the country.
The People’s Picture launched the project at London Piccadilly Lights on Monday 22 June 2020 and called out for people to submit their pictures and stories. Landsec and Ocean Outdoor donated the iconic screen as part of their community engagement programme which has continued throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
After collecting thousands of photos and stories, the final artwork has become a giant interactive online mosaic for the 72nd birthday of the NHS and extends nationally across the regions during July in partnership with Landsec as multiple digital and print artworks including Bluewater London, Trinity Leeds, St Davids Cardiff, Westgate Oxford, White Rose Yorkshire, One New Change Lewisham, Buchanan Galleries, Glasgow. Thanks to JCDecaux & Clear Channel.
Previous photo mosaic tributes by British artist Helen Marshall of The People’s Picture have ranged from The Face of WW1 the centenary of the outbreak of World War One and The People’s Monarch celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, to The Face of Suffrage marking the 100th anniversary of British women getting the vote and The People’s Moon giant lunar art across Times Square and the Kennedy Space Centre.
Delve into the stories of thousands of lives at the NHS, key workers and carers and those in lockdown.