Equality is at the heart of everything that the Union does: an injustice to one is an injustice to all
Weekend two - November 2024 - book now
Weekend one - June 2024 round-up
The NASUWT is committed to promoting equality for all of its members in order to achieve equal and fair treatment at work.
As part of our ongoing equalities work, we are hosting two Equalities Weekends in 2024 in which we will explore the current challenges facing our members with protected characteristics and the opportunities to secure more equal workplaces and a more equal society.
These conferences are open to all members and will provide an opportunity to influence the Union’s campaigning and advocacy work and how we develop as a lay-led organisation in which all members can be involved.
The themes primarily focus on topics such as trans rights, equalities priorities for the new UK Government, breaking down the barriers to activism, and tackling harassment and discrimination, along with a number of CPD workshops.
These events take place over the weekend, with sessions on both the Saturday and Sunday.
Weekend two
Saturday 16 November 2024, 10am to 3:30pm
Sunday 17 November 2024, 10am to 1:30pm
Theme 1: Breaking down the barriers to activism
NASUWT aspires to be representative of our membership and of the teaching profession in all its diversity, yet progress towards this remains slow and challenging at times. If we want to make a significant improvement, we must address some of the current practices that act as barriers to engagement for members from under-represented groups. What more can be done to encourage all our members to see Union activism as attractive?
Theme 2: Intersectional harassment and discrimination: the impact on members with protected characteristics
The Equality Act recognises in law age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation as protected characteristics. The same equality strands, including political opinion, are covered under multiple different forms of legislation in Northern Ireland. What more can the NASUWT be doing to address harassment and discrimination against our members who share one or more of these identities?
Please note, we have limited numbers available for these events and will be offering spaces on a first come, first served basis.
Under-represented Groups’ Safe Spaces
The Union values the safe space opportunities for those with protected characteristics and will therefore be hosting evening events open only to members self-identified from the following groups:
Black Teachers’ Dinner and Networking Event
Friday 15 November 2024, 7pm to 10pm, ICC Birmingham
Women Teachers’ Dinner and Networking Event
Saturday 16 November 2024, 7pm to 10pm, ICC Birmingham
Accommodation can be provided if required.
Crèche
A crèche facility will be provided for the November conference for those members who require childcare provision. Crèche places are allocated to members who are attending the event:
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alone with their child(ren); or
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with a partner who is also registered to attend the event.
To register for a crèche place, please email the Conferences and Events Team.
Disability access and dietary requirements
If you have any disability access or dietary requirements, please email the Conferences and Events Team as soon as possible.
Alongside these networking events, the NASUWT will host shorter consultative events online over the course of the year for Black, LGBTI, Women and Young members. Dates and times are to be confirmed soon.
Our Disabled Teachers’ Consultation Conference took place on Saturday 10 February 2024 at the Hilton Metropole, Birmingham.
If you’d like to attend these equality weekends please follow the link below and complete the web form to secure your place.
Book here for Equalities Weekend Two
Weekend one round-up
The June 2024 Equalities Weekend was held in Birmingham on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 June under the theme of ‘Allyship’.
In a departure from our customary Consultation Conference format, NASUWT opened up a weekend of activities and workshops for all members to explore the current challenges facing colleagues with protected characteristics and opportunities to secure more equal workplaces and a more equal society.
In conversation with Dr Patrick Roach
Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, looked forward to the next government during his interview with Sarah Soyei, Head of Strategy and Development at EqualiTeach.
Dr Roach called for an election that delivers hope of real change after a 14-year agenda that has been condemnatory of public services, which has propped up an ideological assault on the profession and the denigration of childhood.
Asked about his fears, Dr Roach urged members ‘not to take anything for granted’ or sleepwalk into believing their vote doesn’t matter.
NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach Q&A session
For highlights of weekend one of the conference, click/tap the button below:
Highlights of the Conference
Saturday workshops
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Trade union equalities priorities for the next UK Government
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Quinn Roache, TUC Policy Officer (Disability and LGBT+ Equality)
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Jane Peckham, NASUWT Deputy General Secretary
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Reclaiming pedagogy
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Darren Northcott, NASUWT National Official (Education)
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Having courageous conversations and challenging prejudice in schools
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Sarah Soyei, Head of Strategy and Development
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Trans allyship and why it’s trade union business
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Chay Brown, TransActual Director of Operations and Director for Healthcare
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Panel session and discussion
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Chaired by Claire Ward, NASUWT National Executive Member and Chair of the Equal Opportunities Committee
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Rashida Din, NASUWT National President
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Phil Siddle, NASUWT Assistant General Secretary
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Kira Chan, NASUWT Young Activist of the Year
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Nik James, NASUWT LGBTI Advisory Committee
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Quinn Roache, TUC Equalities Policy Officer
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Chay Brown, TransActual Director of Operations and Director for Healthcare
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Wellbeing session
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Dave Read, Coolfire
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Sunday workshops
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The importance of allyship
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Claire Ward, NASUWT National Executive Member and Chair of the Equal Opportunities Committee
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Catherine Myerscough, NASUWT Principal Official (Equality and Training)
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Building NASUWT locally
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Justin Adams, NASUWT Senior Official (Recruitment)
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Gareth Owen, NASUWT Local Association Secretary, Isle of Ely, Vice-Chair Recruitment Advisory Committee, TUC Young Workers’ Committee
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Winning the argument
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Tara Lillis, Policy Official (Scotland), NASUWT
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Nik James, NASUWT LGBTI Advisory Committee
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Social media: walking the tightrope
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Lena Davies, NASUWT Press and Media Officer (Campaigns and Communications), and Cory Hazlehurst, Campaigns and Communications
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Under-represented groups’ safe spaces
As part of its commitment to safe-space opportunities for those with protected characteristics, we also hosted safe-space events at the LGBTI Teachers’ Dinner and Networking on Friday and the Young Teachers’ Dinner and Networking on Saturday.
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