Register from 9am and collect your conference badge.
Louise Banahene, Director of Educational Engagement, University of Leeds & Karan Khanna, Chief Operating Officer, Unite Students
Welcome to the University of Leeds for the third Living Black at University conference.
Session delivered by Sam Kingsley
Carol Thomas, Accommodation Services Manager, University of the Arts London, EDI Lead CUBO
1. University of Leeds
2. Unite Students – Student Support – Luke van der Kooij
3. Living Black at University: The Book Prelaunch - Nick Cartwright, 'Teleola Cartwright & Osaro Otobo
4. Black Student Mental Health – Peer Support (University of Nottingham)
5. Behavioural Agreement Guidance - Rebecca O'Hare & Katy Lemmon
Hosted by Jenny Shaw
Participants to choose from:
Reducing the Black Tax: Shifting responsibility from individuals to institutions - Herringbone - Co-designed by the Co-creation group & Osaro Otobo
What is the ‘Black Tax’ and how does it impact the Black experience in accommodation?
This session moves beyond naming the “Black tax” to focus on how institutions can actively reduce it. The Black tax shows up when the same Black students and staff are repeatedly relied upon to educate others, represent “the Black voice”, or carry the emotional labour of driving change often without recognition, resource or authority.
Drawing on lived experience, this workshop will explore how organisational systems, cultures and decision-making processes can unintentionally create or reinforce these extra burdens. Participants will examine where responsibility sits within their own contexts and identify practical ways to redistribute labour, resource inclusion work properly, and design processes that do not rely on unpaid goodwill.
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to move responsibility away from individuals and toward structures, alongside one concrete action their institution can take to reduce the Black tax.
Who this is for: Anyone involved in student experience, accommodation, governance or EDI work, particularly those with influence over how work is designed, resourced or recognised.
From Allyship to Action: Using power, privilege, and courage to create change - Tweed - led by Rebecca O’Hare & Melissa Browne
‘If you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.’
Toni Morrison
This practical workshop focuses on what meaningful allyship looks like in real institutional settings. Moving beyond awareness and intention, it explores how individuals at all levels can use their power and privilege to challenge racism, influence decisions and create safer, more inclusive environments for Black students.
Through scenario-based discussion, participants will consider how to act with confidence in moments that matter, such as responding to racist incidents, questioning decisions that maintain the status quo, or challenging inaction framed as “not the right time”. The session also explores how to support Black students and colleagues- without speaking over them- and how to move beyond performative gestures toward sustained, courageous action.
Participants will leave better equipped to challenge without fear, understand their role in driving change, and take intentional action within their sphere of influence, translating allyship into leadership that makes a tangible difference.
Who this is for: Leaders, managers, frontline staff and allies who want to move from intention to impact.
Getting Started – and Getting Serious: Making the case for Sustainable Change - Denim - led by Jenny Shaw & Sam Kingsley
Designed for institutions at different stages of their journey, this workshop focuses on how to build a strong, sustainable case for improving Black students’ experiences. It goes beyond initial “getting started” conversations to explore what good, better and best practice look like in practice.
Participants will examine how to use data, student insight and sector evidence to make the case for action, and how to embed this work into governance, strategy, Access and Participation Plans and budgets. The session will also introduce key Living Black tools such as the Pledge and the EDI Data Maturity Framework, as practical starting points for assessing progress and identifying priorities.
Attendees will leave with a clearer sense of what effective action looks like, and a practical framework they can use to secure buy-in, resource and accountability within their institution.
Who this is for: Those responsible for planning, strategy, governance, EDI or student experience who want to move from commitment to delivery.
Getting Career Traction: Turning capability into momentum - Wool - led by Alice Chilver
Many talented professionals are doing the work, delivering results, and still wondering why their careers are not moving as they expected. This energising session creates space to pause, reflect and reset. It focuses on what it really takes to build traction when you feel capable but unclear about your next step.
Delivered by WHEN, the organisation behind the 100 Black Women Professors NOW movement, the workshop draws on WHEN’s growth environment approach. Rather than “fixing” individuals, it offers practical ways to work with your environment more intentionally and strategically.
The session is built around three keys to traction: clarity, confidence and community. Participants will cut through noise and obligation to define what they are aiming for next and what they want to be known for. Confidence is reframed as something built through action, not personality, exploring how self-doubt or perfectionism can quietly limit visibility. Community highlights the role of sponsorship, peer support and strategic relationships in creating forward movement.
Through guided reflection and discussion, attendees will identify practical shifts they can make immediately. They will leave with a focused 30-day traction plan designed to create visible, sustainable progress.
Who this is for: Anyone involved in recruitment, interviewing, line management, progression decisions or shaping organisational culture.
Workshops will be repeated at 14:00
Participants to choose from:
Reducing the Black Tax: Shifting responsibility from individuals to institutions - Herringbone - led by Sam Kingsley
What is the ‘Black Tax’ and how does it impact the Black experience in accommodation?
This session moves beyond naming the “Black tax” to focus on how institutions can actively reduce it. The Black tax shows up when the same Black students and staff are repeatedly relied upon to educate others, represent “the Black voice”, or carry the emotional labour of driving change often without recognition, resource or authority.
Drawing on lived experience, this workshop will explore how organisational systems, cultures and decision-making processes can unintentionally create or reinforce these extra burdens. Participants will examine where responsibility sits within their own contexts and identify practical ways to redistribute labour, resource inclusion work properly, and design processes that do not rely on unpaid goodwill.
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to move responsibility away from individuals and toward structures, alongside one concrete action their institution can take to reduce the Black tax.
Who this is for: Anyone involved in student experience, accommodation, governance or EDI work, particularly those with influence over how work is designed, resourced or recognised.
From Allyship to Action: Using power, privilege, and courage to create change - Tweed - led by Osaro Otobo & Katy Lemmon
‘If you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.’
Toni Morrison
This practical workshop focuses on what meaningful allyship looks like in real institutional settings. Moving beyond awareness and intention, it explores how individuals at all levels can use their power and privilege to challenge racism, influence decisions and create safer, more inclusive environments for Black students.
Through scenario-based discussion, participants will consider how to act with confidence in moments that matter, such as responding to racist incidents, questioning decisions that maintain the status quo, or challenging inaction framed as “not the right time”. The session also explores how to support Black students and colleagues- without speaking over them- and how to move beyond performative gestures toward sustained, courageous action.
Participants will leave better equipped to challenge without fear, understand their role in driving change, and take intentional action within their sphere of influence, translating allyship into leadership that makes a tangible difference.
Who this is for: Leaders, managers, frontline staff and allies who want to move from intention to impact.
Getting Started – and Getting Serious: Making the case for Sustainable Change - Denim - led by Melissa Browne & Jenny Shaw
Designed for institutions at different stages of their journey, this workshop focuses on how to build a strong, sustainable case for improving Black students’ experiences. It goes beyond initial “getting started” conversations to explore what good, better and best practice look like in practice.
Participants will examine how to use data, student insight and sector evidence to make the case for action, and how to embed this work into governance, strategy, Access and Participation Plans and budgets. The session will also introduce key Living Black tools such as the Pledge and the EDI Data Maturity Framework, as practical starting points for assessing progress and identifying priorities.
Attendees will leave with a clearer sense of what effective action looks like, and a practical framework they can use to secure buy-in, resource and accountability within their institution.
Who this is for: Those responsible for planning, strategy, governance, EDI or student experience who want to move from commitment to delivery.
Getting Career Traction: Turning capability into momentum - Wool - led by Alice Chilver
Many talented professionals are doing the work, delivering results, and still wondering why their careers are not moving as they expected. This energising session creates space to pause, reflect and reset. It focuses on what it really takes to build traction when you feel capable but unclear about your next step.
Delivered by WHEN, the organisation behind the 100 Black Women Professors NOW movement, the workshop draws on WHEN’s growth environment approach. Rather than “fixing” individuals, it offers practical ways to work with your environment more intentionally and strategically.
The session is built around three keys to traction: clarity, confidence and community. Participants will cut through noise and obligation to define what they are aiming for next and what they want to be known for. Confidence is reframed as something built through action, not personality, exploring how self-doubt or perfectionism can quietly limit visibility. Community highlights the role of sponsorship, peer support and strategic relationships in creating forward movement.
Through guided reflection and discussion, attendees will identify practical shifts they can make immediately. They will leave with a focused 30-day traction plan designed to create visible, sustainable progress.
Who this is for: Anyone involved in recruitment, interviewing, line management, progression decisions or shaping organisational culture.
Session delivered by Sam Kingsley and Student Minds
Alice Chilver - Founder & CEO, WHEN Equality
Melissa Browne, Deputy Chair of the Living Black at University Commission
