Hear Lived Experience
Create space for Black, Asian and ethnically diverse voices and experiences to be heard, respected and valued.
Black History Month 2026 • Free Conference
Challenging Racism, Building Change
Moving from awareness to action through lived experience, shared learning and courageous conversations.
Join Equality and Diversity UK for a participative conference exploring racism, its impact and what meaningful anti-racist change looks like in practice.
Wednesday 21 October 2026Black History Month Conference
10.00 am – 3.00 pmRegistration from 9.30 am
Luther King HouseBrighton Grove, Manchester M14 5JP
Courageous conversations. Shared experiences. A commitment to change.
What a fantastic day we had at our Honouring Our Communities – Courageous Conversations About Race and Neurodiversity conference on 21 October 2026!
As part of Black History Month, Equality and Diversity UK brought together 13 people to explore the inequalities experienced by ethnically diverse neurodivergent people. We listened, shared experiences, challenged assumptions and discussed what needs to change to make services, workplaces and communities more inclusive.
Five powerful messages emerged:
💬 Listen to lived experience. Every person's story matters.
🤝 Recognise different experiences. Race, culture, identity and neurodivergence can combine to create additional barriers.
📊 Know the evidence. Better information helps us understand inequality and challenge it.
💜 Turn allyship into action. Good intentions must lead to meaningful change.
🌱 Work together. Lasting improvements require shared learning, partnership and organisational responsibility.
Our first completed evaluations rated the conference Excellent, with respondents reporting greater understanding of the importance of lived experience and the intersection of race and neurodiversity.
And this is just the beginning!
We are developing HOPE – Honouring Our Perspectives Equitably, a professional network to continue these conversations, share good practice and work together towards more equitable outcomes.
Our first meeting is planned for November 2026.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to such an open, welcoming and thought-provoking day.
Together we learn. Together we change.
#BlackHistoryMonth2026 #EqualityAndDiversityUK #RaceEquality #Neurodiversity #LivedExperience #Inclusion #HOPE
About the conference
A space to listen, learn and act
This conference brings people together to explore racism honestly, share lived experiences and learn from one another in a respectful and supportive environment.
Through courageous conversations, facilitated discussion and practical reflection, participants will consider the impact of racism, the barriers to meaningful change and the actions individuals and organisations can take to strengthen racial equity and inclusion.
The day moves beyond awareness alone — creating space for reflection, connection, shared learning and practical commitments to change.
Purpose of the day
What the conference aims to achieve
An opportunity to deepen understanding, hear different perspectives and turn conversation into meaningful action.
Courageous Conversations
Explore racism and inequality through honest, respectful discussion in a psychologically safer learning space.
Learn From Others
Share perspectives, challenge assumptions and learn from the experiences, insights and practice of others.
Build Change
Identify practical actions and commitments that can contribute to lasting anti-racist change beyond the conference.
Conference programme
Agenda
A participative day combining shared learning, lived experience, discussion, reflection and action planning.
9.30 am
Registration, refreshments and networkingArrive, connect and settle into the day.
10.00 am
Welcome and openingIntroductions, expectations and creating the learning space.
10.15 am
Setting the sceneWhy this conversation matters and why you signed up.
11.15 am
Comfort break
11.30 am
Lived experience and courageous conversationsSharing experiences, listening to others and exploring different perspectives.
12.30 pm
Lunch and networking
1.15 pm
From awareness to actionFacilitated group discussions, shared learning and practical action.
2.30 pm
Reflections, commitments and next stepsIdentify one key takeaway and actions beyond the conference.
3.00 pm
Conference close
Why attend?
What you will take away
Deeper Understanding
Develop a deeper understanding of racism, inequality and their impact.
Different Perspectives
Gain insight into lived experiences and perspectives that may differ from your own.
Greater Confidence
Build confidence to take part in courageous conversations about race.
Practical Action
Take away ideas and practical actions that can strengthen anti-racist practice.
Who is it for?
Everyone has a role in building change
The conference welcomes people who want to listen, learn, reflect and contribute to meaningful anti-racist change.
Whether you are attending through your workplace, organisation, community or as an individual, you do not need to arrive with all the answers. Come with openness, curiosity and a willingness to engage respectfully with different experiences and perspectives.
A respectful learning space
- Respectful and courageous conversation.
- Listening without judgement.
- Sharing lived experience without expectation or pressure.
- Learning from difference.
- Reflection, challenge and practical action.
Wednesday 21 October 2026 • Manchester
Be informed. Be heard. Be the change.
Join us at Luther King House for a day of courageous conversation, shared learning and practical action.