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Doreen Lawrence guest edits and talks about the people who have inspired her, including Obama and Mandela. Raising the work aspirations of BME boys. Beverley Knight sings.

Doreen Lawrence (this year's number one game changer on the Power List) talks about the people who inspired her, from Maya Angelou to Barack Obama. She also investigates why fibroids are more common in Afro Caribbean women and discusses treatment options with Mr Yacoub Khalaf, Consultant at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London.
The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust runs a number of training programmes and bursaries designed to help young people from the black community to gain access to the professions. So what are the best ways to make sure all young people are able to fulfil their potential? We discuss with Minister for Skills and Enterprise, Matthew Hancock and Lee Elliot from education think-tank The Sutton Trust.
And Beverley Knight sings Fallen Soldier.

Available now

58 minutes

Last on

Thu 1 May 2014 10:00

Chapters

  • My Inspiration

    Baroness Lawrence is undoubtedly an inspiration to others, but who has inspired her?

    Duration: 13:00

  • Young Black People and Work Based Learning

    The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust transforms the lives of disadvantaged young people

    Duration: 12:56

  • Black Women and Fibroids

    African-Caribbean women are three times more likely than Caucasian women to get fibroids

    Duration: 08:28

  • Beverley Knight

    Stephen's death inspired Beverley Knight to write a song, Fallen Soldier, in his memory

    Duration: 07:19

My Inspiration

Baroness Doreen Lawrence’s fight for justice for her murdered son, Stephen, have led to many tributes including that of 91Èȱ¬ Secretary Theresa May on Woman’s Hour, describing her strength and dignity as ‘truly an example to us all’.  The Power List’s number one Game Changer, Baroness Lawrence is undoubtedly an inspiration to others, but who has inspired her? She talks to Jenni Murray about influences on her own life.

Improving Opportunities

For Baroness Lawrence, education is a passion and a vital component in addressing the inequalities in society.  The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust was set up in 1998 and aims to transform the lives of disadvantaged young people.  The Trust runs a number of training programmes and bursaries which are designed to help youngsters from the black community and other ethnic minorities to gain access to the professions.  So what are the best ways to make sure all young people are able to fulfil their potential?  Jenni discusses the issues with Baroness Lawrence, with the Minister for Skills and Enterprise, Matthew Hancock and with Lee Elliot Major, Director of Development and Policy at The Sutton Trust.

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Black Women and Fibroids

Fibroids – benign growths in the uterus - are common, with more than forty per cent of women developing them at some point in their life, according to the NHS. However African-Caribbean women are three times more likely than Caucasian women to get fibroids, say BUPA, and they also tend to be larger, occur at an earlier age, and are likely to cause more severe symptoms. And with hysterectomy the most common treatment, this is a big issue for black women. So why aren’t black women talking about this more? Why are they so by fibroids? Is the right treatment being offered – can we avoid hysterectomies? And should more be done to increase awareness about this condition and the treatment options, when it affects so many? To discuss, Jenni is joined by Bridgette York of the Fibroid Network, who herself suffered from fibroids as a young black woman, and by Mr Yacoub Khalaf, Consultant in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery and Medical Director of the Assisted Conception Unit at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

Beverley Knight

The murder of 18 year old aspiring architect Stephen Lawrence in a racist attack in 1993, left a mark on singer songwriter Beverley Knight. His death and his family’s struggle for justice inspired her to write a song in his memory. She will perform ‘Fallen Soldier’ live in the studio and we speak to Baroness Doreen Lawrence about why she chose this as one of her Desert Island Discs. 

Credits

Role Contributor
Interviewed Guest Doreen Lawrence
Presenter Jenni Murray
Producer Emma Wallace
Interviewed Guest Yacoub Khalaf
Interviewed Guest Bridgette York
Interviewed Guest Matthew Hancock
Interviewed Guest Lee Elliot
Interviewed Guest Beverley Knight

Broadcast

  • Thu 1 May 2014 10:00

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