This series is for all Newcastle University staff and Postgraduate Researchers.
We’ve all heard the terms “race equality” and “diversity”. But behind the jargon, many of us are left wondering: “What am I actually supposed to do?”
If you’ve ever held back because you were worried about saying the wrong thing? Or wanted to be supportive but weren’t sure where to begin?
The Allyship in Higher Education workshop series is designed with you in mind. This interactive workshop series offers practical tools and real-world guidance, specifically tailored to the realities of working in Higher Education – so you can build confidence, take meaningful action, and make a genuine difference in our workplace.
Book your place on the sessions here.
Session 1: Foundations of Anti-Racism and Allyship in Higher Education
Wednesday 3rd June, 13.00-15.00. Stephenson Building, Room 1.010
In our heads, we have an image of what sort of person we are, and how we’d react if we witnessed something that wasn’t right. Yet in the moment, there’s a discrepancy between our image of ourselves, how we wanted to react, and what we actually do.
There are various barriers which cause this, including not knowing what to say or do, or simply feeling like you don’t know enough about the issue to intervene or be an ally. This interactive session will explore these barriers and begin to equip you with the tools and knowledge to start your allyship and anti-racism journey. This workshop will guide you through:
- Overview of antiracism and allyship
- Historical context of race and racism in the UK
- Basics of allyship and barriers to becoming an ally in HE
- The allyship journey from individual support, advocating for a group, and dismantling systems
- Inclusive Leadership
About Alex
Alex is a culture change professional who has built a career in creating a sense of belonging within Higher Education, currently working in EDI at the University of Birmingham. Alex uses innovative practices to create long term behavioural change in large organisations – seeing his role to activate people, not author policies. He is a qualified coach and mentor, regularly delivers talks on authenticity and values-led leadership and designs and delivers leadership training programmes.
Energised by bringing communities together and finding ways to engage local people with large organisations, he is currently Co-Chair of its Race Equality Network, a voluntary network of almost 800 staff. During his tenure the Network was recognised at a national and international level, placing as the second-best network in both the British and European Diversity Awards.
A key focus for Alex is amplifying and embedding the experiences of minority communities, whether it’s creating large scale public events such as establishing the Benjamin Zephaniah Community Lecture and nationally leading South Asian Heritage Month programmes, or representing staff of colour to the most senior levels of the organisation and lobbying for change.
Session 2: Influencing Your Sphere by Everyday Racism
Wednesday 1st July 10.00-12.00. Stephenson Building, Room 1.010
This session is designed to explore how we can effectively drive change within our own spheres of influence. Over the course of the session, we will highlight the importance of identifying our core values and purpose in addressing injustice. You will be introduced to five key principles for influencing change and learn practical strategies for challenging injustice when it arises.
Find out more: https://www.everydayracism.co.uk
Anti-racist school website: https://www.antiracistschool.co.uk
Instagram: @everydayracism_
About Everyday Racism
Everyday Racism is the largest anti-racism platform in the UK, led by award-winning activists, authors and educators, Naomi Evans and Natalie Evans.
Their mission is to provide accessible education and training for all, providing a safe space to learn and the confidence to impact change.
They are committed to engaging people of all ages on their anti-racism journey, recognising that this work is ongoing and requires continuous learning and growth. They believe in the importance of people power and that collective action is necessary to achieve lasting change. They want a world where diversity is celebrated as a source of strength and enrichment and we strive for all to thrive, regardless of their race or ethnicity.
Session 3: The Game Plan – Turning Commitment into Impact
Wednesday 23rd September, 13:00–15:00 (Room TBC)
How do we move from understanding inequity to actively dismantling it? In this final workshop, we focus on the “How-To.” Supported by the NUREN team and fellow allies, we will explore diverse case studies of advocacy in Higher Education.
This session is designed to be highly interactive:
- Successes & Setbacks: Hear first-hand accounts of allyship in action.
- The Troubleshooting Lab: Bring your “what if” scenarios and current roadblocks to the group for peer-to-peer support.
- The Roadmap: Draft your personal action plan with measurable goals that align with your specific role and sphere of influence.
FAQ’s
Who can attend this session? This session is for al Newcastle University staff and PGRs.
Do I need to attend all three sessions? While each session offers standalone value, the series is designed as a progressive journey. To get the most out of the experience and ensure continuity in group discussions, we strongly encourage attending the full series.
Can I attend “Session 3: Action Planning” if I missed the first two? Because Session 3 builds directly on the work completed in previous weeks, attendance at Sessions 1 and 2 is highly recommended. If you have a specific conflict but still wish to join the final planning phase, please reach out to us to discuss if it’s a good fit.
Is this event hybrid? Due to the highly interactive and collaborative nature of these workshops, this is an in-person event only. We believe the face-to-face format is essential for the depth of connection this series requires.
Will there be recordings or resources shared? We will not be recording the live sessions to protect the privacy of participants’ discussions. However, all digital resources, worksheets, and key takeaways will be shared with registered attendees following each session.
What if I can no longer attend? We have a limited capacity and are hosting external speakers. If your plans change, please notify us at nu-ren@newcastle.ac.uk atleast 48 hours in advance. This allows us to offer your spot to someone on our waiting list.
I’m not sure if this workshop is right for me – who can I speak to? We’d love to help you figure that out! Please reach out to us at nu-ren@newcastle.ac.uk and we can discuss the workshop content to ensure it aligns with your needs and goals.