Published on: 4 August 2025
As part of South Asian Heritage Month (18 July – 17 August), Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is celebrating a range contributions from its south Asian communities and colleagues. This year’s theme, ‘Roots to Routes’, invites us to learn south Asian identity, culture and the rich diversity that strengthens our workforce and the care we provide. 
To mark the awareness month, the Trust is celebrating its diverse workforce by sharing colleagues’ stories and shining a spotlight on their lives. Nabeela Khan, a Mental Health Practitioner at Derbyshire Healthcare, shares her journey of strength, cultural pride and commitment to breaking down barriers.
“My parents were first-generation immigrants from Pakistan. They came to the UK with very little, but they brought with them resilience, hope, and dreams for their children. My father worked two jobs, my mother one, all to ensure their daughters could access education and stay connected to their roots.
“My early life was shaped by both hardship and hope. My father rode a camel to school and my mother was denied an education altogether. Yet they instilled in their daughters the belief that education was the key to a better life. I earned a teaching degree, but my path took a dramatic turn when I was diagnosed with cancer while caring for my 14-month-old son.
“That time was filled with uncertainty, but it was also a turning point. I retrained as a social worker, transforming personal adversity into a professional calling. It allowed me to turn my pain into purpose.
From a young age, I had been a bridge between cultures – translating letters, filling out forms, and supporting members of the South Asian community. Even at 13, I was a support worker in many ways. But my school years were marked by isolation and racism. I would hide in the toilets, ashamed of who I was.
“Surviving cancer changed everything. I decided I would never again hide who I am. Today, I am a proud British Pakistani woman and a dedicated mental health practitioner. I support individuals in navigating cultural and societal barriers, especially those whose identities have been marginalised. Many women in our community have been raised to believe it’s normal not to have a voice. But change is happening, and I’m grateful to be part of it.
“There is a lot to celebrate with my heritage – the vibrant clothes, the scent of treats from Pakistan and the community spirit. I now take my children to Pakistan so they can understand how far we’ve come. This dual identity is not a burden; it’s a gift.”
