AEM Adoption Panel celebrates local Black history in the making

Published: Monday, January 20, 2025

AEM Adoption Panel celebrates local Black history in the making

In 2025 we are running an extra panel, that panel needed a name. AEM have been and continue to be on a journey to ensure our Global Majority are seen, heard and considered in all we do. AEM’s TRIA (Tackling Racism and Inequality in Adoption) group and panel members were consulted and two people put forward ‘Unity’. Theresa Peltier was one of those people who is the Chair of the panel, and her reasons are below:

  • The first Black High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire was Professor Veronica Pickering. The first Black High Sheriff of Derbyshire was Theresa Peltier. Both Veronica and Theresa were appointed High Sheriffs in the same year, 2023, and they formed a strong alliance. In March 2024 Veronica was the first Black woman to be appointed as His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, and Theresa was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant in Derbyshire, the first Black DL for the county.
  • The theme for Theresa’s year as High Sheriff was ‘Unity Is Community’ and she gave particular focus to that in some of the things she did and gave a platform too, such as celebrating the Windrush generation, (the exhibition has been in many places in Derbyshire, including education establishments), the Deaf community, women in prison and inter-racial adoption.
  • Theresa will be the chair of the new panel, but also Veronica was for many years a Guardian Ad Litem and safeguarding specialist. They both have a very strong connection with the needs of young people, their families, and the care system. Theresa has also been doing a lot of work with The Staff College and their Just Home Programme during the past 18 months, most recently a Webinar for Black History Month and co-facilitating the training in November 2024 in London with Rose Durban.
  • AEM has been significant in contributing to the Global Majority business area, having been a forerunner in hosting the Just Home Programme and contributing to the AFDiT Framework.
  • Whether Theresa is chair of the Panel for 1, 5, 10 years or longer, Theresa feels it would be fabulous, along with AEM to leave a joint legacy. It tells the story of how during a specific time in history in 2023, which was the 75th year anniversary of Windrush, two Black women who are connected through their work in social care became the first Black HSs, and in 2024 both were appointed to the Lieutenancy for their counties, which fits with the geographical area of AEM. It also tells the story of how AEM have been committed to bring about change and keep Global Majority on the agenda.
  • The title ‘Unity’ also encompasses what we wish to achieve as a Panel, which is to ensure care experienced children get the best possible outcome, and panel members use all their lived experience and knowledge to ensure culture plays a part in that.
< Back to: News