A still from University of Leicester's Rural Racism project film by Feel Good Films. Last year I was invited to be part of a major new University of Leicester study entitled The Rural Racism Project: Towards an Inclusive Countryside (2023–2025) .  Led by Professor Neil Chakraborti, Professor Corinne Fowler and Dr Amy Clarke, it challenges dominant depictions of rural England as peaceful, neutral and apolitical.  It investigated the realities of racism experienced by minoritis

Looking back on a year that brought its challenges as well as moments of real reward, I've been reflecting on my work and why I still enjoy it so much . My whole career has been anchored in relationship development — be that between me and clients, between me and journalists, between me and collaborators, building links between clients and audiences or communities, and so on. It's something I've always been able to do quite naturally. I also love being involved in projects th

Do you need clarity on inclusion in your engagement, research or communications work? Sign up to my 1-2-1 coaching sessions this month!

My work inevitably creates challenging conversations – be that between me and my clients, between me and the people I'm engaging with, or among the people who participate in workshops and other activities. It's part of the course, and nothing to worry about if you're prepare for it. But why does this happen? Embedding meaningful inclusion into organisational systems isn’t just a strategic initiative – it’s a journey that can transform outcomes. If done appropriately, it can f