Building Inclusive Organisational Culture: reflecting on the success of our EDIB conference
Cate Hemingway, Head of Learning and Development at Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance, reflects on the recent EDIB Conference
Last month, the Gloucestershire VCSE sector came together for a landmark event: the EDIB Conference on Building Inclusive Organisational Culture in VCSE organisations. The day brought together charities, community groups, partners, and allies from across the county to explore how we can create spaces where equity, diversity, inclusion – and belonging – are truly at the heart of what we do.
From the moment delegates arrived, there was a strong sense of energy, openness, and collaboration. Matt Lennard, CEO of Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance, set the tone by outlining the purpose of the day: connection, renewed energy, and practical ideas to take back into our organisations. That framing carried through the whole event, reminding us that the conference was not an end in itself, but a catalyst for change across the sector.
Setting the tone with lived experience
The day began with a keynote speech from Penny Wilson, who spoke powerfully about trusteeship and inclusion. Her message was clear: boards and senior leaders have a critical role to play in embedding EDIB into governance and decision-making, ensuring diverse voices are represented and valued.
We then heard ten minute talks from organisations including Lives of Colour, Active Impact, Wagada, Barnwood Circle, and our partner Go Volunteer Glos. These talks were deeply moving, reminding us that inclusion is a lived experience and that co-creation is a powerful route to belonging. Mothers of Colour, part of Lives of Colour, brought the spirit of Ubuntu – “I am because we are” – into the room, while Barnwood Circle shared their collaborative work on anti-racism principles.
Six themes that stood out to our conference observers Jess Waterman and Nicole Hastie
Identity – Jo from SENStory invited us to think about the power and visibility of our multiple identities, likening us to oranges with many segments. Some parts of ourselves feel more prominent in different spaces, and it is vital to widen the lens, so we can embrace difference more fully.
Allyship – Rosa from Allsorts spoke about creating a culture of allyship. She highlighted the need for both learning and unlearning, for linking EDI work back to organisational purpose, and for supporting each other in the discomfort and imperfection of the journey.
Communication – Sonia and Vicci from Inclusion Gloucestershire reminded us to “seek first to understand and then to be understood.” They spoke about the transformative impact of accessible communication, such as BSL interpretation, and the responsibility of the VCSE sector to use words and images to challenge assumptions and change attitudes.
Diverse leadership talent – Penny from Getting on Board warned of the leadership potential we risk losing without proactive action. Diversity of thought strengthens decision-making, and lived experience enriches the impact we can make.
Value of lived experience – From Prudence at Wagada Digital on inclusive design, to Active Impact’s co-delivery approach, to the stories of Mothers of Colour, there was a consistent call to centre lived experience in our work. Listening deeply, co-creating, and valuing personal stories were recurring themes throughout the day.
Collective effort – Perhaps most importantly, the conference reminded us that inclusion is a shared responsibility. Change happens when we come together. Visibility, openness to challenge, proactivity, and kindness are all essential. A quote from Sharon from Barnwood Circle: “We could look down at our feet and see how dark things feel right now, or we can lift our heads and look to the light.”
Workshops, interactive sessions and panel discussions
The workshops provided delegates with practical strategies: from moving “from compliance to culture,” to tackling bias in recruitment, to embedding allyship and measuring EDIB impact. Trainers including Allsorts, Gloucestershire County Council, SENstory, Inclusion Glos, and Inclusive Change equipped participants with tools they could apply immediately in their organisations.
Lucy Smith from Inclusive Change led a thought-provoking interactive session asking us to take our learning and pledge commitments to change that we can achieve in the short, medium and long-term.
The day closed with a diverse and engaging panel, featuring voices from Inclusion Glos, Young Glos, Wotton Pride, Black South West Network, University of Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire Constabulary, and Barnwood Circle. Their openness and honesty about lived experiences and organisational challenges gave delegates much to reflect upon.
Looking ahead
The success of the conference lies not only in the conversations we had on the day, but also in the momentum it has generated. Follow-up opportunities are already planned, including a Check-In & Chat session on achievable change, the Gloucestershire Allyship Programme with Inclusive Employers, and specialist training on intersectionality, and EDIB for strategic leads.
The conference proved that when the VCSE sector comes together with honesty, courage, and kindness, we can spark real change. The challenge now is to turn inspiration into action — lifting our heads, looking to the light, and building a more inclusive Gloucestershire for all.
The videos of our Creating an Inclusive Organisational Culture Conference 2025 are available to watch in our video library here.