In 2024, Southampton Forward and the University of Southampton embarked on a sector support initiative focused on fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion (“EDI”) in Southampton. Building on the foundation laid during the 2021 pilot, this fully funded workshop series drew the participation of 25 Southampton-based organisations, each eager to deepen their commitment to EDI in a rapidly shifting landscape.
The pilot in 2021 marked the beginning of an evolving dialogue, where traditional approaches were challenged and reimagined to meet the changing needs of the city. By 2024, this landscape had transformed significantly, with new approaches, perspectives, and strategies emerging. The 2024 programme was designed to reflect this dynamic context, ensuring that organisations of all sizes—from small grassroots non-profits to larger institutions—could engage with the latest thinking and co-curate an outcome that would be useful to them.
To kick off this new phase, organisations that were part of the 2021 pilot reunited in November 2023 for a focus group. Participants discussed their progress, candidly shared challenges, and explored how the evolving landscape had shaped their experiences. The rich conversations that emerged were instrumental in shaping the 2024 programme, ensuring it was tailored to the current realities and future aspirations of these organisations.
Following this, an open call was issued, inviting a diverse array of organisations to register for the 2024 programme. This approach attracted a broad mix of participants, from small grassroots charities to larger institutions, all eager to navigate the evolving challenges of EDI and contribute to shaping a more inclusive future for Southampton.
