Equality is at the heart of everything that the Union does: an injustice to one is an injustice to all
Weekend two - November 2024 round-up
Weekend one - June 2024 round-up
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 hosted two Equalities Weekends in 2024 in which we explored the challenges facing our members with protected characteristics and the opportunities to secure more equal workplaces and a more equal society.
These conferences were open to all members and provided 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.
Weekend two round-up
The November 2024 Equalities Weekend was held in Birmingham on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 November under the themes of:
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Intersectional harassment and discrimination: the impact on members with protected characteristics
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Breaking down the barriers to activism
Our second Consultation Conference Equalities Weekend was another two-day event full of activities and workshops for members to discuss ongoing challenges that teachers and headteachers with protected characteristics face and how NASUWT is working with activists to ensure workplaces and wider society become places of safety and equality.
Under-represented groups’ safe spaces
As part of its commitment to providing safe spaces to members with protected characteristics, we hosted the Black Teachers’ Dinner and Networking event on Friday evening and the Women Teachers’ Dinner and Networking event on Saturday evening.
In conversation with Dr Patrick Roach
Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, talked to Professor Joy Warmington, founder and CEO of brap, about what it means to him to be a leader in the trade union movement, how he has championed equalities and social justice, and the continued relevance of trade unions in a fast-changing political landscape.
Discussing what drives him as leader of NASUWT, Dr Roach said, ‘I make no apology for putting equalities front and centre of my leadership. Championing equality is in the DNA.
‘But, as a Black leader, you’re not always judged by the qualities that you bring: the knowledge, the skill set. Some people assume that you don’t have any interest in the wider issues, the teaching profession and the issues that are relevant to all our members, whether that’s pay or working conditions, teachers’ sense of professional identity or the standards that govern their work.’
Watch the full discussion below, including the achievements he’s most proud of.
NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach Q&A session
Another packed weekend gave members the opportunity to take part in a variety of workshops and a panel session.
Saturday
Workshops
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Setting up Networks in the Regions and Nations for Under-represented Groups - two sessions run by members of the NASUWT West Midlands Black Teacher Network: Narinder Purewal and Ava Verrier ran the first session andAndrea Welter, Javay Welter and Karen Williams ran the second
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Securing Your First Leadership Position - Gilroy Brown, Education Consultant
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Preventative Cultures for Tackling Sexual Harassment - Nikki Pound, Women’s Policy Officer, TUC
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Online Searches of Shortlisted Candidates - an Equalities Issue - Sarah Cull, Principal Official (Education), NASUWT
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Optimising Energy, Mental Health and Wellbeing When Tackling Harassment - Anna Reddy, Founder of Leap Health, and Gaughan, Curator of Curious Conversations
Panel session and discussion - Women in Leadership
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Introductory remarks from Stella Creasy MP, Member of Parliament for Walthamstow
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Chaired by Claire Ward, NASUWT National Executive Member and Chair of the Equal Opportunities Committee
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Nikki Pound, Women’s Policy Officer, TUC
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Karen Williams, Vice-Chair, NASUWT Black Members’ Advisory Committee
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Sally Rees, NASUWT President Northern Ireland, Vice-Chair of the Women’s Advisory Committee
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Jane Peckham, Deputy General Secretary, NASUWT
Wellness session
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Sohan Kailey - Bhangra dance workshop
Sunday
Workshops
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Delivering a New Deal for ALL teachers - Chris Weavers, National Official (Campaigns and Communications), NASUWT
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Colouring in the Classroom - Diane Rutherford, Learning and Development Lead, brap
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The Importance of Allyship - Claire Ward, Chair of the Equal Opportunities Committee, NASUWT
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New Approaches to Digital Activism - Rhiannon Stableford-Morgan, Press and Media Officer, NASUWT
Wellness session
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Sarah Hunt, Wellness Specialist - Feel-good Finale
Flickr albums
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.
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 evening and the Young Teachers’ Dinner and Networking on Saturday evening.
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
Wellbeing session
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Dave Read, Coolfire
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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Flickr albums
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