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We exist to transform lives through social justice. Inspired and named after real-life events, Makana Leadership Ltd provides a range of services to schools, trusts and third sector throughout the UK to support them with their strategic and leadership development. We work collaboratively with CEOs, system leaders, headteachers, trustees and a range of other partners to support in the delivery of authentic and sustainable leadership solutions. Why? Because social justice matters.

Our vision is to change the way we think about leadership to ensure social justice and achievement for all. The success of our values-led mission hinges on three key principles: 1. That the change is sustainable, deep-rooted, and impacts on pupil outcomes; 2. That the change is purposeful, pivotal and adds value in a diverse society, and; 3. That the change is wholesome and nourishes the community, to ensure that people continue to thrive.

Our founder Andrew Morrish has been a headteacher since the age of 29. For the next two decades or so, he has worked across the country, almost exclusively in challenging, urban, multicultural schools, trying to make a difference to people’s lives. He knows the journey of school transformation inside out and is the author of ‘The Art of Standing Out’. Andrew is a former founder trust CEO, Ofsted inspector and National Leader of Education.

Lifting Limits works to challenge gender stereotyping – a root cause of inequality – in and through education. Our vision is of a world in which every child makes their own path in life, free from the limiting effects of gender stereotyping on their choices and aspirations.

Stereotyping surrounds children and it doesn’t stay outside the school gates – rather, it is reinforced in schools through language, displays, books, curriculum teaching and the assumptions of adults and peers. All this gives children messages about what is expected of girls and boys, women and men – and it happens young, at a crucial stage in children’s learning about the world and their place in it.

That is why our programme supports primary schools to recognise and address gender stereotyping and bias in the school environment and to equip their pupils to challenge stereotyping wherever they encounter it.

Using an evidence based whole school approach, our programme includes staff training, workshops for parents and a raft of practical resources to support school staff apply a gender lens in their practice. Tested in our pilot year, this approach has proven impact in raising awareness and changing attitudes in schools, their staff and pupils (view the pilot impact report).

Lifting Limits is delighted to be shortlisted for the 2020 National Diversity Awards

Inspiring Governance is the DfE funded school governance recruitment service – where schools and academy trusts can search for skilled governors to join and strengthen their governing boards. It is run by the charity Education and Employers. Education and Employers works closely with a wide range of professional sectors and employers to ensure volunteer availability from a range of professional and geographical backgrounds.

Any governors appointed through the service receive the induction guide Welcome to Governance written by the NGA.

Since June 2018, Inspiring Governance and NGA have jointly run the Everyone on Board campaign which aims to attract more volunteers into governance from young and Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. The campaign aims to break down the usual network-based approaches to governor recruitment (which often recruit in like) and has worked with a range of race organisations and Black, Asian and Minority ethnic staff networks to do this.

In 2019, Education and Employers launched the Governing our Schools; 10 Years on research report, reporting the changing trends in governance over the past decade.

Chris Gibbons is Director of Inside Inclusion and has over 15 years’ experience developing and delivering inclusion and anti-discrimination strategies across a range of industries in the private, public and voluntary sectors in the UK and around the world. He is an experienced trainer on issues relating to inclusion, anti-bullying and anti discrimination.

He has trained over 10,000 employees at all levels of business, as well as over 20,000 teachers and trainee teachers, with overwhelmingly positive feedback. In particular, Chris has extensive knowledge and expertise on LGBT and disability inclusion. Prior to establishing Inside Inclusion consultancy, Chris spent ten years working in the voluntary and non-governmental sectors for organisations including The National Autistic Society, Stonewall and The FA.

Inside Inclusion’s clients include Adam Smith International, The Anti-Bullying Alliance, Beano Studios, The British Council, Chelsea FC, Diversity Role Models, Ministry of Defence, National Children’s Bureau, The Oil & Gas Authority, RBS, The Football Association, Sport Scotland and University of Bristol.

‘Inclusive Solutions’ are a team of psychologists and associates who specialise in mainstream inclusion for disabled and challenging children and adults. We make available cutting edge practical strategies and ideas for developing effective inclusion in local mainstream schools and communities. We use ideas that have been developed internationally and adapt them to the UK context. We work with anyone who wants to bring about the real systems changes that are necessary to move towards a truly inclusive society.

Colin Newton and Derek Wilson are Co-founders and Directors of Inclusive Solutions. Together they have a combined experience of over 65 years experience as educational psychologists working across the UK.

For 18 years since founding Inclusive Solutions they have offered a range of inspiring inclusion oriented services including casework, person centred planning, innovative training and community building. Previously as Principal and Senior strategic Educational Psychologists in Nottingham City LEA, they bring a wealth of practical, applied solutions and processes from their work with children and young people with exceptional needs aged between 0-19.

Currently they are providing training nationally and internationally with a wonderful team of associates.

Together they have written several books such as: Creating Circles of Friends, Circles of Adults, Restorative Solutions, Keys to Inclusion and Person Centred Planning Together.  Inclusive Solutions is also a small publishing house and has published a number of books for other leading internationally renowned inclusive authors including: Incurably Human, Taking the Time, Seeing the Charade, Quiet Riot and Dear Parents.

What?
Our mission is to challenge the lack of representation and inequality in our current education system.

It is simple.

#RepresentationMatters

Why?
In 2018 Aisha, an Assistant Principal in a Bristol Secondary school was approached by BBC Inside Out West to present on their show exploring this very issue.

During this process, Aisha interviewed Shauna, a fellow teacher from Bristol and after sharing their experiences they realized that they needed to do more to ensure the voices of the under-represented were heard and to raise awareness of the many issues faced, due to the lack of the representation in education and beyond.

Aisha then joint forces with Lana Crosbie (Chair of Bristol NME), to deliver workshops and training addressing the inequality in the education system.

It was clear that they had to do something, they had to reignite the debate.

Alas, Representation Matters was borne.

How?
We provide CPD, training and consultancy support.

WeCanAccess works to promote accessibility and inclusion. Its site, wecanaccess.com, unites people with disabilities, parents/carers, businesses and SEND professionals encouraging them to share personal experiences, ideas and perspectives.

The website provides a variety of free resources. By simply creating an account, you can anonymously contribute to the online discussion boards. These areas are a safe space, offering valuable opportunities to seek help and advice or just chat with similar families and professionals.

You can find out more from people with disabilities or SEND professionals with the online blog. The blog raises awareness of various conditions and highlights positive access experiences. It also provides tips and advice for businesses, schools and individuals looking to become more inclusive.

WeCanAccess.com has a growing accessibility guide, for places and businesses. It highlights useful information relating to physical accessibility and sensory features too.

WeCanAccess wants to hear about those hidden gems around the corner from you! The ‘review’ area offers the opportunity to search for or leave a quick recommendation for somewhere you have visited that does access well.

For those who want a little help, the website also uses ‘recite me’ software. This can translate the site into 100 different languages and/ or read it out loud in 35! It can also be used to find text definitions, change font sizes and background colours!

WeCanAccess was created by David and Emma Bara, whose daughter was left with a range of disabilities following treatment for a brain tumour, at the age of two.

WeCanAccess are a registered UK Social Enterprise (socialenterprise.org.uk), United Nations Sustainable Development Champions (http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/) and proud partners of the Learning Planet 2021 (https://www.learning-planet.org/en/festival).

Greg Jenkins Consulting is a best-in-class Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) solutions provider. Many D&I companies offer D&I consulting and training, however, we provide much more. From our proprietary prosocial behavioural research and organisational assessments to D&I strategy development and training to award-winning mentorship program development and support we can bring a host of proven expertise and experience to your team.

Fig Tree International Ltd provides advice, challenge and support to schools both in the UK and internationally. This school improvement service has been established to give schools the opportunity to purchase additional support and to provide high-quality training and help. The team consists of experienced advisers/consultants with a strong track record of improvement and a thorough understanding of educational contexts.

We also work with corporations and other organisations in a leadership, coaching and team-training capacity. As part of our services, we offer a RACE Charter Mark for all schools, colleges and centres in the UK.

The Charter Mark is accredited and supported by the SSAT and BITC. The RACE Charter Mark offers a formal way of championing race equality and confirming to all stakeholders that you are prioritising an inclusive culture where staff, students, parents and partners of all ethnicities are valued. The Charter Mark process results in a dynamic action plan, which works alongside the organisation’s strategic planning documentation and is reviewed regularly to ensure that progress is being made and sustained.  Find out more.