Black History Month
The Finchley Charities is proud to celebrate Black History Month 2024 and this year’s theme, Reclaiming Narratives. This theme encourages us to challenge the traditional narratives that have historically overlooked Black achievements and instead amplify stories of resilience, success, and empowerment. In line with our ongoing commitment to inclusion and community, we are dedicated to supporting all voices and advocating for equality, and we are committed to uplifting Black voices during Black History Month and beyond as part of this effort.
In celebration of this year’s theme, we would like to share an interview with one of our residents, Geraldine Emeka-Okposuogu, who travelled extensively during her career as a physiotherapist and even appeared in a BBC documentary.
Geraldine’s Story
Geraldine Emeka-Okposuogu had been on quite a journey before she eventually arrived at The Finchley Charities three years ago. Born in Sierra Leone, she was sent to a convent school in Ireland, then studied physiotherapy in London before going into practice for many years. After retirement, Geraldine returned to Africa to do charity work in Ghana before heading back to England. Living with Parkinson’s, Geraldine is happy to enjoy a relatively quiet existence at Wilmot Close, watching her favourite TV quiz shows. However, she does get involved in some of the activities on offer for residents.
“I love the surroundings at The Finchley Charities with all the beautiful greenery. It’s good to have others around to talk to but I like my own company as well. I really enjoy watching quizzes like Tipping Point and The Chase and I love it when I get an answer right. It’s a great way of keeping your mind sharp.
“A friend introduced me to The Finchley Charities when I was looking for somewhere that would give me both independence and support. I applied to several other places but this came up first and, three years on, so far so good.”
Despite being brought up as a protestant in the city of Freetown in Sierra Leone, Geraldine’s parents decided that she should continue her education at a Catholic convent in Ireland. That was back in the early 1960s and she found she had to quickly adapt to a very different world.
“It was quite a shock for me,” Geraldine remembers. “The weather was so cold and I learnt my lesson when I got chilblains from putting my hands on the radiators.
“The nuns were very strict in those days but we still tried to have fun. I can remember we got caught preparing for a midnight feast and the Mother Superior said she was going to ask our parents to post plane tickets as we were going to be sent home. Thankfully, it didn’t happen. I switched schools when I was older so I could do science because I was thinking about doing radiography. That idea changed when my father discovered that some radiographers in Freetown had become infertile. So, I decided to go for physiotherapy instead and came to London to study.
“While I was at the School of Physiotherapy, the BBC made a film about foreign students studying in this country. I think I was the only black person on the course at the time so I was filmed and interviewed for the programme. I think it’s still in the BBC archives. In 2017, we had a reunion celebrating fifty years since we had been students together.
“I worked for 45 years as a physio and I had a very varied and enjoyable career working with all sorts of different specialities, including those suffering with polio. Even now, people are still asking me about their aches and pains. I would always encourage any young person to go into physiotherapy.”
In amongst her busy career, Geraldine found time to get married and have four children, sadly losing one while he was very young. Her husband unfortunately passed away in 2000, and that loss made her believe she still had more to give. She continued to work for a few years before returning to Africa to work for the Ghana International Women’s Club, an NGO.
“Doctors and other medical people come from all over the world to work on a lot of different projects,” Geraldine explains. “They pay for so many vital things like cataract operations, cleft palate procedures, new operating theatres, mother and baby rooms and specialist blood units. It was a fantastic charity to be part of and help them raise important funds for the underprivileged.
“A lot of women came over from West Africa in the 1950s to do their nursing certificates, including my mother. She went on to become a brilliant midwife and came back to London to work in Hackney hospital. We could do with a few more like her now because there’s a terrible shortage of midwives.”
On Geraldine’s own return from Africa, she went to live in Mill Hill with her son Derrick before moving on to Wilmot Close. She used to be very involved with her church but these days they come to see her.
“I’ve got so much good support when I need it. I’ve got good friends and neighbours and I interact with all. It’s a lovely environment with events like the brunch and Friendship Friday. My grandson Kyle has also been doing some work experience with The Finchley Charities recently so it really couldn’t be better.”
Geraldine was interviewed and her story written by journalist Ed Newman.
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As part of our continued emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion, The Finchley Charities signed the Social Housing Anti-Racism Pledge (SHARP) earlier this year. This pledge reinforces our zero-tolerance stance on racism and strengthens our resolve to foster an inclusive culture for residents, staff, and partners. By aligning with SHARP’s six principles, we are dedicated to taking action, setting clear anti-racism goals, and engaging with our community to actively combat racial inequality in social housing. You can learn more about SHARP here.
We hope you will join us in celebrating Black History Month by embracing a future built on inclusion and empowerment.
National Inclusion Week 2024
The Finchley Charities is excited to support National Inclusion Week 2024, themed “Impact Matters,” which aligns closely with our values of community, inclusion, support, security, and quality. National Inclusion Week centres around highlighting and engaging with inclusion in the workplace, striving to make organisations a welcoming place for all employees.
As an inclusive employer, we are committed to fostering a diverse, welcoming environment where every individual feels valued and supported. By focusing on the impact of our inclusion efforts, we ensure that our mission to enhance quality of life for those in our care is not only upheld but continually improved. Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do, ensuring security and support for all members of our community, including our staff and residents. Join us from September 23-29 as we celebrate inclusion and work towards a more inclusive future for all.
Learn more about National Inclusion Week here: