“Multiplying leaders. Building resilient communities. Creating lasting change.”
Dr (HC) Rachel Walton is an award-winning community leader, author, and strategic innovator whose work has transformed grassroots leadership and cultural inclusion across the UK and beyond. As Co-founder of African Families in the UK (AFiUK) and creator of the internationally recognised Ambassador Model, she has dedicated her life to empowering diverse communities, mentoring new leaders, and driving systemic change in health, equity, and social justice.
This collection of 20 questions and answers offers a personal insight into Rachel’s journey, achievements, and vision – from meeting Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III and, to collaborating with the NHS, Oxford Saïd Business School, Firstsite, and Yale University. Through these conversations, you’ll discover not just her story, but the principles of leadership, allyship, and community empowerment that guide her work.
AFiUK was born from a very simple need: to create a safe, empowering space for African and diverse families navigating life in the UK. Early on, I realised that sustainable change doesn’t come from one leader; it comes from multiplying leadership within communities. That insight gave birth to the Ambassador Model – a framework that equips everyday people to become agents of change in their own context. Today, it has grown into an international training model in leadership and diversity, and that fills me with hope for what’s possible when we invest in people.
I grew up seeing the power of community to lift people out of isolation and adversity. When I moved into leadership, I realised policy alone can’t transform lives unless it’s rooted in real, lived experiences. Grassroots leadership is about trusting communities to shape their own future – my role is simply to create the tools and platforms that allow them to shine.
Awards are a recognition of the work, but for me they are also a spotlight on the people and communities we serve. The Honorary Doctorate at Harvard Club USA 2025 and the King’s Award for Excellence 2025 at the House of Lords of UK and the prestigious King’s Award 2023 for Voluntary Service an equivalent to MBE validate the Ambassador Model on a global scale, but more importantly, they send a message to every community leader: your voice matters, your work is essential, and the world is watching.
It was an incredibly humbling moment, not just for me but for the whole team. The Holiday Fun programme was a true collaboration – Sally Shaw MBE, Director of Firstsite, and I co-founded it together with a shared vision to ensure children had access to hot meals during school holidays. Meeting His Majesty was recognition of the collective effort and the impact it had on over 10,000 children and their families. It felt like the nation saying to those communities: we see you, and you matter.
The model is built on three pillars: cultural competence, empowerment through co-production, and multiplying leadership. It’s not about creating dependency on one organisation; it’s about creating a ripple effect where trained Community Ambassadors go out and build sustainable solutions within their own networks.
When I see organisations like RAFIKI, STEP, Colchester Caribbean Group and Dream the Change thriving independently, that’s success. My goal is not to be the only voice; it’s to create a choir of leaders who reflect the diversity and strength of their communities. That’s the power of multiplication in action.
Mentorship starts at home. I wanted David to know that his story matters, even at 11. Writing Blended Culture Identity gave him a voice and taught him the value of identity and belonging. For me, that’s the same principle I apply to every leader I mentor: your experience is powerful, and sharing it can change lives.
Every woman leader needs: a mentor, a sponsor, a truth-teller, a cheerleader, a challenger, a safe friend, and a successor. Leadership is not a solo journey. Surrounding yourself with these seven roles creates balance, accountability, and a legacy beyond yourself.
Access and visibility remain huge barriers. Many women are doing extraordinary work in the shadows without resources or recognition. For women from ethnic minority background, there’s also the added challenge of navigating cultural dynamics and systemic bias. That’s why creating networks and multiplying leadership is so critical – it breaks isolation and amplifies impact.
Your leadership is not just about what you can do, it’s about who you can lift. Multiply yourself by mentoring others. True legacy is not in titles or awards; it’s in the people who carry your influence forward into places you may never reach yourself.
On the 14th of February 2018, I had the honour of attending a reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It recognised individuals from the Commonwealth diaspora who had made a notable contribution to their own communities or the wider UK. Standing in that room with so many incredible people was humbling, and meeting the Queen herself was unforgettable. It was a moment that celebrated the strength and value of diaspora communities in shaping the nation.
A sponsor is more than a mentor. A mentor guides you, but a sponsor speaks your name in rooms you are not in, and advocates for you when you’re not present. At the Oxford Executive Leadership Programme, I met Steve Mostyn, Associate Fellow at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. He has been that sponsor and ally for me. He wrote praise for The Ambassador, a foreword in The Power of Multiplication, and introduced me to the Gordon Cook Conversations and the Oxford Executive Leadership Programme as a speaker. Today, I feature as a mini case study in the current programme. Furthermore, Steve has included a statement from me in his upcoming book, “Why Great Leaders Ask Great Questions,” which John Murray Press is scheduled to release by the end of August 2025. The book emphasises the effectiveness of questions in enhancing managers’ and their teams’ leadership capacity. Order your copy in advance on the website Foyles His belief in my work has opened doors far beyond what I could have done alone. Every woman leader needs at least one strong sponsor in her circle.
Working with Teri Gavin-Jones, a legendary midwife and a true ally, we fought hard against maternity inequalities. Together we supported Community Ambassadors to create the groundbreaking film It is OK to Ask, which has changed conversations around maternal care. Teri’s support opened doors – we shared the stage with Donna Ockenden at The National Maternity Safety Conference 2023 and brought her to speak at our Colchester Women’s Health Conference in 2024 and 2025. In recognition of Teri’s incredible impact, we named the Baby Bank in her honour – Teri’s Baby Bank – to continue her legacy of maternal wellbeing. For me, this partnership represents how collaboration can shift systemic inequalities when driven by shared vision and cultural sensitivity.
Lawrence Walker was a beloved figure in Colchester who sadly passed away from cancer. I wanted to honour his legacy while tackling a taboo subject in many communities – cancer awareness. The Lawrence Walker Awards celebrate community excellence while using a culturally sensitive approach to talk about health. By anchoring the message in someone people loved and respected, we created a platform where difficult health topics could be discussed openly, breaking stigma and saving lives.
Culturally, we’ve seen that when men are engaged as allies, they can become powerful sponsors and advocates. They can speak in rooms we are not present in and amplify our voices in decision-making spaces. Inviting men to the round table isn’t about diluting women’s leadership – it’s about creating a balanced, inclusive ecosystem where both genders actively champion equality. Some of my strongest supporters have been men who understood that empowering women transforms entire communities.
As a Core20PLUS5 Connector in Suffolk and North East Essex, my focus was on bridging clinical priorities with social determinants of health to address inequalities in underserved communities. Being chosen for the Yale University case study was a huge honour, especially as the study is now being used as a teaching tool internationally. It highlighted that cultural competence must be at the centre of health equity. For me, the balance between the “5” clinical priorities and the “PLUS” social factors is where true transformation happens.
It was an opportunity to put our local work on a national stage. Being asked, alongside another Connector, Joyce McIntyre, to share our experience reinforced how vital community connectors are to the NHS strategy on health inequalities. It also validated that change has to come from collaboration between systems and communities working hand-in-hand.
The first year, I spoke about the role of Community Ambassadors in the big agenda of policing. The second year, I joined a panel on “The Power of Allyship” and “The Silent Enemy,” focusing on how unseen cultural barriers and lack of trust can erode safety. Both times I emphasised that policing must include communities as partners, and allyship is essential to make that partnership real.
African grieving traditions are deeply communal, spiritual, and rooted in cultural rituals. In the diaspora, families often struggle balancing those traditions with Western norms, limited bereavement leave, and distance from home. My key message was that professionals must approach bereavement with cultural humility – listen, create space for traditional expressions, and work with faith and community leaders. When we respect culture, we offer support that truly heals.
JENGA Bricks, from the Swahili “to build,” is about seeing every young person as a vital brick in a strong, multicultural community. It’s personalised, holistic youth work that combines mentoring, personal development, education, and cultural identity. For me, youth work is where prevention meets empowerment. It’s how we build resilient communities and break cycles of inequality. Young people are not just future leaders; they are leaders now if we equip them.
