The Black Curriculum is a social enterprise founded in 2019 by young people to address the lack of Black British history in the UK Curriculum. We believe that by delivering arts focused Black history programmes, providing teacher training and campaigning through mobilising young people, we can facilitate social change.

Our programmes are for all young people aged 8-16 and aims to equip young people with a sense of identity, and the tools for a diverse landscape. We are working towards changing the national curriculum and building a sense of identity in every young person in the UK.

As a social enterprise committed to the teaching and support of Black history all year round, our aims include:

1. To provide a sense of belonging and identity to young people across the UK.
2. To teach an accessible educational Black British history curriculum that raises attainment for young people.
3. To improve social cohesion between young people in the UK.

Miss Menopause has been created to fill the void of educational services needed by working women as they reach the menopause.

It’s estimated less than 5% of companies across the UK are educating their workforce about the symptoms that menopause may bring.

So why does it matter?

Since 1971 there has been an ongoing decline in men working full time while the opposite is true of women. The changes to pensionable age brought about in 2010 also mean more women are working for longer than ever before. This trend is set to continue. There are now millions of women having to work through menopause.

Who is affected?

100% of all women will go through the menopause with the average age being 51, however symptoms may begin many years before. Mental health issues can often arise due to menopause as well as a host of other symptoms.

How might this affect me?

Millions of days are being lost to presenteeism, which is driving down productivity. So you won’t find data on this problem as it’s currently hidden. As our workforce ages this is set to increase. Many more women are leaving their positions causing a talent drain, which is a huge cost to any organisation. Ignorance can no longer be an excuse.

Sharon MacArthur conducts engaging interactive learning sessions on site and online to suit your organisational needs.

Appeared on BBC Breakfast, ITN News and Victoria Derbyshire and is a regular on BBC Radio Newcastle taking about the subject of menopause. Shortlisted for a Northern Power Woman Award and a Boots Wellness Warrior Award.

Leaders Plus is an award-winning Social Enterprise who work with individuals during maternity leave, shared parental leave and beyond to allow parents to progress in their careers whilst enjoying their young families.  Too often parents feel they have to choose between being good parents and a fulfilling leadership career. We exist to change this!

Our Leaders Plus Fellowship is a 9-month programme enabling parents with babies and young children to accelerate their careers, therefore helping to close the gender pay gap. Fellows have access to training, workshops, top mentors, a great support network and a host of events. Past fellows have come from a variety of organisations including HSBC, BBC, NHS, Salvation Army, Citizen’s Advice, and more.

We have been selected by The Observer and Nesta as one of 50 New Radical organisations and our Founder, Verena Hefti, has won the WeAreTheCity Rising Stars award for her work in setting up Leaders Plus.

In 2020 we were thrilled to be recognised as a Trialblazing Newcomer in the NatWest SE100, which highlights the UK’s most outstanding newcomers in social enterprise.
We are accredited by Social Enterprise UK and have been supported by the RSA (Royal Society for the Arts and Commerce).

Girls on Board is an approach which helps girls, their parents and their teachers to understand the complexities and dynamics of girl friendships. The language, methods and ideas empower girls to solve their own friendship problems and recognises that they are usually the only ones who can. By empowering girls to find their own solutions, parents need worry less, schools can focus more on the curriculum and the girls learn more effectively – because they are happier.

Over 200 schools have adopted this award-winning approach and are now supporting thousands of girls in their friendships.

Finalist in Wellbeing Initiative of the Year – TES – 2019 and 2020.

We are an education consultancy who aim to be at the forefront of research developments in the field of ‘race’ and gender to ensure that young people are taught to be global citizens, understanding the importance of their roles in shaping an equal, and eventually equitable society. Educating for Equality was established with the objective of supporting schools in their journey towards true equality (and equity). School leaders and head teachers in particular, are in the position to change mindsets and build cultures of inclusion and justice. We believe that it is not enough to acknowledge the problem of race and gender inequality, as educators we have a social responsibility to actively embark on a journey of social justice for all.

In order to support schools on this journey, we offer an online School Development Programme as well as bespoke CPD for schools. We can also provide speakers for one-off events or twilight INSETs. Schools have the opportunity to work towards gaining our quality marks for Equality Education: the Allegiance Award, the Champion Award and the Beacon Award. These are research-informed awards and provide an excellent way to celebrate and externally validate your school’s commitment to equality. With Educating for Equality, you will be part of our mission: #changingtheworldoneschoolatatime

Since 2009, NSN has been at the forefront of an agenda promoting equal standards of education and life chances of all children in England.  We know that too often, a young person’s background dictates their destination in life, entrenching inequality and impacting communities for generations to come. Through the last decade, we have passionately championed breaking down barriers to a good education, through every divide, be it the area where you live, your family background or race.

Ethnically diverse communities have had their standards of education transformed by the free schools programme. A higher percentage of pupils from black and minority ethnic communities attend free schools when compared to other schools. As the top performing type of school at primary and secondary level in England, the programme is a vehicle for social mobility and delivering for left behind communities.

But, NSN recognises that there is much more to do. It is no longer enough to tackle the scourges of racism, lack of diversity and inequality with one approach.  NSN’s senior leadership team has been listening to staff and stakeholders to understand what role the charity can play in breaking down barriers in education. Charities must act on, not just talk about, change- NSN will do that. Having worked with the staff body, NSN’s trustees are today announcing a series of commitments to further our work.

New Schools Network’s Academy Ambassadors Programme is committed to meaningful diversity and inclusion. We believe a diverse academy trust board – in thought, skill, and experience – offers the best range of perspective, and the best support and challenge to the leaders it holds to account.

Figures from our annual diversity survey of all Ambassadors in August 2020 showed 13% of Ambassadors that responded are from BAME backgrounds; 5% are from the LGBTQIA+ community; and 33% are women. We are proud of the progress made over recent years to encourage more women and people from BAME backgrounds to volunteer on academy trust boards.

Results of our annual diversity showed respondents appointed in financial year 2019/20 were more diverse than previous cohorts, with more female than male Ambassadors appointed; the highest figure of Ambassadors with a disability appointed; and the breadth of religious belief, sexual orientation, ethnic background, employment status and qualification level more wide ranging.

While Academy Ambassador appointments are broadly in line with FTSE 100 board positions, and these figures suggest positive trends in more diverse recruitment by academy trusts, we recognise this is not enough. We continually evaluate and reflect upon our procedures to ensure we are promoting board recruitment practices that remove barriers to volunteers from diverse backgrounds being appointed to, and retained in, non-executive director roles.

We are working with industry partners to curate a series of new offers to match diverse candidates to roles that will provide professional development and support their careers in business; we have reviewed and increased the job boards we use to promote roles, ensuring they are reaching the broadest audience; we are developing partnerships with diversity and inclusion networks in business; and we are matching professionals with academy trust roles exposing more diverse candidates to board roles.

We are also listening to NSN staff, businesses, and Ambassadors to learn more about lived experience and how academy trusts can make sure their own recruitment practices are encouraging a broad range of candidates.

We recognise that this must be an ongoing endeavour, with impactful and tangible results, but we are unwavering in our commitment to more diverse academy trusts. We will keep working hard to see broader representation on academy trust boards because we believe a diverse board positively impacts outcomes for children of all backgrounds and for society as a whole.

In October 2020, New Schools Network, together with the Confederation of School Trusts, published On Diversity: An Essay Collection. The collection has been written by six trustees from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds, who reflect on their personal and professional experiences. It also includes a foreword from best-selling author Matthew Syed.

The National Governance Association (NGA) is the membership organisation for governors, trustees and clerks of state schools in England. We are an independent, not-for-profit charity that aims to improve the educational standards and wellbeing of young people by increasing the effectiveness of governing boards and promoting high standards. We are expert leaders in school and trust governance, providing information, advice and guidance, professional development and e-learning.

Through our Everyone on Board campaign, launched in 2018, we encourage volunteers from underrepresented groups (particularly Black, Asian and minority ethnicities and young people) as well as education professionals to join governing boards. We champion the benefits of having a diverse board and help governing boards to understand why it is important and how to recruit for diversity.

Our wider work looks at every aspect of the role of the board in encouraging diversity and ensuring equality ins schools and trusts – in determining ethos and culture; the role of recruiting senior leaders; as employers of all staff; and the direct impact on pupils: the oversight of the curriculum, monitoring of behaviour and exclusions, and outcomes.

Adding new governors/trustees to the governing board who are reflective of (but not representatives of) the community the school serves can help it make better decisions in the interest of all pupils.

Watch our short film to find out more.

Governors for Schools finds, places, and supports skilled volunteers as school governors and academy trustees on school and academy boards.

We serve schools across England and Wales to run effectively by finding high calibre school governors to bring their skills and expertise to the table – and improve education for children.

We recognise that governing boards must be representative of the communities they serve, and the country as a whole. We work to recruit and retain volunteers from diverse backgrounds, improving the diversity of those involved in governance to ensure robust decision-making.