3992d1541cf547ecbb11643cdfb97314

Allyship in Practice

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 08:46:40 GMT

David E. Hull-Watters
People & Culture Partner | Inclusion & Wellbeing Specialist
inclusionconsultant.co.uk

Allyship means taking action to support people who experience discrimination or exclusion. It involves recognising where we have influence, opportunities or advantages that others may not, and using them to help make things fairer.

It begins with listening. We can't assume that we understand someone else’s experience, even when we share aspects of their identity. By remaining curious, questioning our assumptions and accepting feedback, we can become more thoughtful and effective allies.

Our role is to work alongside people, respecting their choices and helping their voices reach those who need to hear them. Sometimes that means speaking up. Sometimes it means stepping back so someone else can be heard.

Allyship takes many forms. It might involve challenging a homophobic comment, supporting a trans colleague or helping an LGBTQIA+ candidate feel welcome. It can mean addressing racism, questioning an inaccessible process, challenging stereotypes about neurodivergent people, or responding to sexism, antisemitism or Islamophobia.

These actions matter in our families, friendships, workplaces and communities. We can also look beyond individual interactions to question the policies, decisions and established ways of doing things that repeatedly disadvantage particular groups.

We will not always get it right. We may feel uncomfortable, discover gaps in our understanding or need to reconsider something we have long believed. Being willing to learn, apologise and change is part of the responsibility.

In practice, allyship involves:

Listening to people’s experiences without dismissing or explaining them away.
Taking responsibility for our own learning.
Responding to unfair treatment and exclusion.
Sharing opportunities, resources and influence.
Following through, including when there is no recognition or reward.

We don't need to have all the answers before we begin. We do need to care enough to act—and remain open to learning how our actions can be more helpful.

Over time, those choices can strengthen trust, widen opportunities and help create places where more people feel respected, valued and able to be themselves.

Everyday actions for LGBTQ+ inclusive workplaces

You don't need perfect words to be a useful ally. Start by noticing, listening and choosing a response that supports the person affected.

Prepare for a courageous conversation

Before speaking, consider:

The behaviour: What specifically happened?
The impact: Why does it need addressing?
The outcome: What change are you asking for?
The setting: Would a private conversation help?

Practise your opening. Stay curious, allow pauses and keep your tone calm.

Choose a helpful response

Consider safety, power dynamics and the risk of drawing unwanted attention to someone.

Curiosity can open a conversation. Clear boundaries are appropriate when behaviour is openly hostile or repeated. You can also seek help or follow up afterwards.

Make your request clear

Try this structure:

Describe the behaviour → explain its effect → request a change.

For example:

“When you described being bisexual as ‘just a phase’, I felt concerned because it dismissed an identity. Please avoid describing bisexuality that way.”

End by agreeing what will change and when you will check back.

Support the person affected

Check in privately:

“I noticed what happened. How are you feeling? Would any support be helpful?”

Listen without minimising the experience or rushing to fix it.
Ask what the person would find helpful rather than assuming.
Respect their privacy. Never disclose someone’s identity without permission.
Avoid promising complete confidentiality if your role may require you to act.
Where behaviour is serious or repeated, seek appropriate support and explain any next steps.

Someone may want you to listen, help them raise a concern or give them space. They should not have to manage your reaction as well as their own experience.

If you get it wrong

Acknowledge → apologise → correct → learn

“Thank you for correcting me. I’m sorry—I meant ‘they’.”

Keep the apology brief, take responsibility and put the learning into practice. Avoid asking the person affected to reassure you.

If someone tells you that your words caused harm, listen before explaining your intentions.

Ask yourself what you can do differently.

Make allyship an everyday habit

Use inclusive language without making assumptions about identity or relationships.
Share credit and challenge bias in access to opportunities.
Learn independently rather than expecting LGBTQ+ colleagues to explain everything.
Support inclusion when no LGBTQ+ colleagues are visibly present.
As a leader, set clear expectations and follow through when concerns are raised.

Your next step

One phrase I will practise: ______________________________

One action I will take: _________________________________

When I will do it: _____________________________________

Continue your learning

Explore further approaches and conversation starters in Courageous Conversations .

David E. Hull-Watters
People & Culture Partner | Inclusion & Wellbeing Specialist
inclusionconsultant.co.uk

David, a former Specialist Educational Needs and Trauma-informed teacher, is an Inclusion and Wellbeing Consultant, with 25+ years of experience, training across all strands of Diversity & Inclusion, who champions the right of every individual to achieve their fullest potential, both personally and professionally, so that they are not held back by the limiting labels imposed upon them by others.

He is an Associate Consultant and Trainer for the Onvero , EMBED Inclusion , FireBird , and ParaPride . He is represented as a Public Speaker by Champions Speakers , Diversity and Inclusion Speakers Agency , The Motivational Speakers Agency , All American Entertainment , and Evolve Talent and Speakers .

Additionally, he is the founder and coordinator of the international Give ‘em Hope Campaign ; Marriage Equality Pioneer who successfully campaigned for a change in marriage legislation by taking a legal case to the European Court of Human Rights with Equal Love UK , a Trustee for Embracing Arts , and writer of the soon to be published LGBTQ+ Role Model book, Never Blend In .

Give ‘em Hope Campaign

Equal Love UK

NEVER BLEND IN

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World Mental Health Day 2026

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 07:23:17 GMT

Work to Live. Don’t Live to Work

Coming back from the most incredible holiday in Crete, and with World Mental Health Day upon us, I’ve found myself reflecting on something that feels particularly relevant, both personally and to the work I do.

For perhaps the first time in a very long time, I totally switched off. And I mean properly switched off. I stopped thinking about the next email, the next piece of work, the next deadline or what I should be doing.

Instead, I simply appreciated my time. Time with the people I love. Time sitting in the sunshine, eating wonderful food, laughing, exploring, doing very little and sometimes doing absolutely nothing.

And somewhere along the way, I think I finally understood just how important it is to step away, slow down and give ourselves permission to rest.

I’ve come home feeling refreshed, energised and genuinely excited about what is going to be a very busy few months. But I’ve also realised that being ready to get back to work doesn’t mean I need to go back to being permanently switched on.

It’s something I’ve been thinking about a great deal, particularly because so much of my work focuses on creating healthier, more inclusive workplace cultures where people feel valued, supported and able to thrive.

When I deliver sessions on workplace wellbeing, psychological safety, inclusive leadership and organisational culture, we often explore the importance of recognising stress, looking after our mental health, building resilience and knowing when to ask for support.

And, of course, all of these things matter enormously.

But I think we also need to look beyond what individuals can do to protect their own wellbeing and consider the environments in which they’re expected to work.

We’ve somehow created workplace cultures where being constantly available can be mistaken for being dedicated, where taking a proper lunch break can feel slightly rebellious, and where people sometimes apologise for taking annual leave they’re actually entitled to.

I’ve met people who feel guilty about switching off at the end of the day, who worry about how taking sick leave might be perceived, or who feel an unspoken pressure to demonstrate their commitment by working longer and longer hours.

And yet we continue to talk about the importance of work-life balance, self-care and mental health awareness.

There’s a contradiction here that I think we need to acknowledge.

We cannot keep encouraging people to look after their mental health while maintaining workplace cultures that make doing so unnecessarily difficult.

This is where leadership, organisational values and psychological safety become so important. Because a genuinely healthy workplace isn’t simply one that offers wellbeing initiatives or encourages people to talk about mental health. It’s one where people feel comfortable establishing boundaries, where workloads and expectations are reasonable, where asking for help isn’t seen as weakness, and where taking time away from work doesn’t come with an accompanying sense of guilt.

And perhaps most importantly, it’s one where leaders demonstrate these behaviours themselves, recognising that the example they set can be far more influential than the messages they communicate.

None of this means that we shouldn’t work hard, take pride in what we do or be committed to doing our jobs well. I certainly love my work and feel incredibly fortunate to do something that I find so rewarding and meaningful.

But loving what we do shouldn’t mean that everything else in our lives becomes secondary.

So, on this World Mental Health Day, I’m reminding myself of something I regularly encourage others to consider.

Take your lunch break.
Switch off when the working day ends.
Enjoy your weekends.
Take your holidays.
Use your sick leave when you’re unwell.
Spend time with the people who matter to you.

And please, don’t feel guilty for any of it.

These aren’t signs of a lack of commitment or professionalism. They’re part of maintaining healthy boundaries and recognising that our wellbeing, relationships and lives outside work are important too.

After all, we agree to bring our time, skills and experience to our jobs in return for pay and benefits. We don’t agree to hand over every evening, weekend, holiday or moment of our personal lives.

And organisations have a responsibility to respect that.

For me, this is what makes World Mental Health Day such an important opportunity. Not simply to raise awareness or encourage people to take better care of themselves, but to reflect on what we can all do to create environments that genuinely support good mental health.

Because great workplace cultures don’t just get the best from people. They want the best for people too.

I’m looking forward to getting back to work, reconnecting with clients and colleagues, and continuing the conversations that make what I do so rewarding.

But I’m also going to try very hard not to forget what Crete reminded me.

Work to live. Don’t live to work.

And perhaps that’s something worth remembering, not just on World Mental Health Day, but every day.

I’d love to know: Does your workplace genuinely encourage people to switch off and look after their wellbeing, or do we still have some way to go in changing our expectations around work?

Give ‘em Hope Campaign

Equal Love UK

NEVER BLEND IN

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You Belong Here

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 09:00:14 GMT

Creating Cultures Where People Know: “You Belong Here”

There are some training sessions where you leave feeling that you have delivered something. And then there are sessions where you leave feeling that you have shared something .

My two recent sessions with colleagues from Zurich Insurance very definitely fell into the second category.

The subject was Creating Respectful & Inclusive Workplace Cultures , beginning with Why Inclusion Matters and the Concepts That Underpin It. But what made both sessions particularly enjoyable was not simply the subject matter. It was the extraordinary level of engagement, curiosity, openness and participation from the people in the room.

And that matters.

Because inclusion cannot really be explored through somebody standing at the front of a room and telling everyone else what they should think or do.

It needs conversation. It needs different perspectives.

It needs people who are prepared to reflect, question, disagree respectfully, share their experiences and sometimes admit that they don't have all the answers.

From fitting in to belonging

We started by thinking about something most of us will have experienced at different points in our lives: belonging and exclusion .

What does it actually feel like to belong?

And what happens to us when we realise that, for whatever reason, we are on the outside?

Those questions led us into some fascinating conversations about insider and outsider dynamics and the often-unwritten rules that exist within groups and organisations.

People who find themselves on the inside may not even notice those rules. They may simply experience the culture as normal.

For somebody on the outside, however, those same rules can be very visible indeed. They may find themselves constantly assessing how to communicate, how to behave, what to reveal and what perhaps needs to be hidden in order to be accepted.

That distinction became particularly important when we explored masking .

There is a considerable difference between being welcomed into a workplace because of who you are and being welcomed because you have become very good at appearing to be who you think everybody else expects you to be.

Fitting in is not the same as belonging.

The small things aren't always small

We also explored bias, intersectionality, LGBTQIA+ experiences and history, micro-behaviours and microaggressions.

One of the recurring themes throughout was that workplace culture isn't created solely by policies, strategies or statements of organisational values.

It is created in thousands of everyday interactions .

We asked:

Who gets interrupted?
Whose idea gets acknowledged?
Who is invited into the conversation?
Whose name do we make the effort to pronounce correctly?
What assumptions do we make about somebody's partner, family, identity, abilities or experiences?
Who gets the benefit of the doubt?

And, perhaps just as importantly, what happens when somebody gets something wrong?

For me, an inclusive culture isn't one in which everybody has memorised the correct terminology and nobody ever makes a mistake.

It is one where there is enough curiosity, compassion and psychological safety for people to learn from one another.

As I concluded in the session:

“Inclusion isn't about knowing everything, always getting it right or being frightened of saying the wrong thing. It's about curiosity, compassion, listening and being willing to learn — and recognising that all of us, through thousands of small everyday interactions, help create the culture around us.”

And Zurich colleagues certainly brought that curiosity

What particularly struck me across both sessions was just how willing colleagues were to get involved.

They contributed, questioned, reflected, shared experiences and perspectives, engaged with one another as well as with me.

And, importantly, they brought humour and humanity into conversations that can sometimes feel daunting or overly serious.

That kind of participation transforms a training session. Rather than inclusion being something we simply talk about, the room itself becomes a place where people listen to different perspectives, exchange ideas and learn from each other.

That is exactly what these conversations should be.

A huge thank you to everyone at Zurich Insurance who participated in the two sessions . Your openness, energy and willingness to get involved made them an absolute joy to facilitate.

And a very special thank you to Caitlyn, Poppy and Georgia for all their work coordinating and hosting the sessions and for helping to create such a welcoming environment.

I may have been facilitating, but there was a great deal of learning happening in every direction.

And perhaps that is the most important reminder of all:

Culture isn't something an organisation simply has. It is something we create together, interaction by interaction, conversation by conversation, every single day.

Sometimes the smallest everyday action can communicate one of the most powerful messages we can give another person: You Belong Here .

Give ‘em Hope Campaign

Equal Love UK

NEVER BLEND IN

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The Hummingbird and the Heart

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:28:56 GMT

Love, Freedom and Never Blending In

How Leonard Cohen's The Future inspired my tattoo, and how an afternoon at Reverse Cowgirl Tattoo became an experience that reflected so much of what the artwork represents.

Sometimes, the things we choose to carry with us have meanings that go far beyond their appearance. They become reminders of our experiences, the people we love, the things we believe in and, perhaps most importantly, who we have become.

My latest tattoo is one of those things.

A hummingbird flying across a heart, inspired by the cover artwork of Leonard Cohen's 1992 album The Future. An image I've admired for years, but one that has taken on increasingly personal significance as I've reflected on my own experiences, my involvement in the Equal Love campaign, my work in inclusion and, more recently, the writing of my book, Never Blend In.

What began as an appreciation of a piece of artwork has become something that connects several important chapters of my life.

And the experience of bringing that artwork to life, thanks to the extraordinary creativity of Ze at Reverse Cowgirl Tattoo, added another rather lovely layer of meaning.

The Future:

Finding hope in an imperfect world

I've always been drawn to Leonard Cohen's music, poetry and extraordinary ability to explore the contradictions of being human.

His work confronts some of life's most uncomfortable realities while somehow retaining a sense of beauty, compassion and hope.

Released in 1992, The Future explores a world experiencing political, social, cultural and spiritual upheaval. Its songs examine uncertainty, disillusionment, power, love and the often uncomfortable contradictions of human behaviour.

Yet, beneath its darker observations, there are moments of extraordinary tenderness.

The album's cover artwork brings together three striking symbols: a hummingbird, a heart and a pair of open handcuffs.

I've always found that combination fascinating.

I wouldn't presume to know precisely what Cohen intended each element to represent. However, for me, they speak to three fundamental human needs: love, freedom and hope.

And, perhaps more importantly, the complicated relationship between them.

We want to love and be loved. We want the freedom to live our lives authentically. And we want to believe that, even when the world feels uncertain or unwelcoming, something better remains possible.

These are themes that have followed me throughout my life and become increasingly central to my professional work.

The hummingbird:

The strength to remain ourselves

There's something rather extraordinary about hummingbirds.

Tiny, seemingly delicate creatures, they possess remarkable strength, agility and endurance. They can hover, change direction, fly backwards and, despite their size, undertake extraordinary migratory journeys.

For me, the hummingbird represents individuality, resilience, transformation and the freedom to be ourselves.

Throughout our lives, we encounter expectations about who we should be, how we should behave, what we should believe and where we supposedly belong.

Some of these expectations are communicated explicitly. Others are absorbed almost unconsciously through our families, education, communities, workplaces and wider society.

Over time, we can become remarkably skilled at adapting.

We learn which aspects of ourselves are welcomed, which attract criticism and which might be easier to conceal.

Sometimes, without even recognising what's happening, we begin presenting versions of ourselves that we believe others will find more acceptable.

But there's an important difference between adapting to our circumstances and feeling that we must fundamentally change who we are to be accepted.

The hummingbird reminds me that resilience doesn't necessarily mean becoming harder, louder or more like everyone else.

Sometimes, our greatest strength lies in preserving precisely those qualities that make us different.

And resilience isn't simply about surviving adversity. It's also about retaining our capacity for joy, appreciating beauty and remaining open to life's possibilities.

There is something wonderfully liberating about recognising that we don't have to become something else to demonstrate our worth.

The heart:

Love should never require conformity

The heart is perhaps one of our most familiar symbols.

We associate it with romantic love, affection and emotional connection. But for me, its significance extends considerably further.

It represents our fundamental human need to be seen, heard, valued and accepted.

Not for who others would prefer us to be, but for who we actually are.

This understanding has been shaped by my relationship with my husband, Richard, and our involvement in the UK's Equal Love campaign.

In December 2010, we applied for a civil marriage licence at Woolwich Register Office, knowing that our application would be refused because we were a same-sex couple.

That refusal was part of a coordinated legal challenge designed to demonstrate how the law treated couples differently depending on their sex.

We weren't asking for special treatment.

We were challenging the idea that our relationship should be recognised differently from somebody else's.

Our involvement in that campaign taught me something that continues to inform my work today.

Love, equality and acceptance aren't simply abstract ideals. They have very real consequences for people's lives.

They influence our rights, opportunities, wellbeing, relationships and ability to participate fully in society.

And although legislation is essential in establishing rights and protections, genuine inclusion requires something more.

It requires us to examine the attitudes, assumptions and everyday behaviours that determine whether people actually experience equality and belonging.

We can change laws without necessarily changing hearts.

Both matter.

And perhaps that's why this particular heart means so much to me. It represents not only the love Richard and I share, but also the belief that nobody should have to justify their identity or compromise their authenticity to be considered worthy of love.

The open handcuffs (which I chose not to include): Freedom from expectations

Although the open handcuffs featured in the original album artwork aren't part of my tattoo, they remain an important element of its inspiration.

For me, they represent liberation.

Freedom from restrictions. Freedom from expectations. Freedom from the systems and structures that prevent people from living authentically.

But there's another form of liberation that interests me just as much.

Freedom from the expectations we've internalised.

While writing Never Blend In , I've spent considerable time reflecting on the influence of social conditioning.

From an early age, we receive messages about what is considered normal, acceptable, successful, attractive or worthy of approval.

These messages can become so deeply embedded that we stop questioning them.

We may spend years trying to fit into environments that were never designed with us in mind, without fully recognising the emotional and psychological cost.

And sometimes, even when external restrictions disappear, we continue carrying the expectations we've learned to impose upon ourselves.

We become our own gatekeepers.

That, for me, is where the symbolism of the open handcuffs becomes especially powerful.

Liberation isn't simply about removing the barriers that others place in our way.

It's also about recognising and challenging the barriers we've come to accept within ourselves.

It's about giving ourselves permission to be who we are.

Never Blend In: The freedom to belong

One of the most rewarding aspects of writing Never Blend In has been discovering just how much we share, even when our lives, identities, backgrounds and circumstances appear extraordinarily different.

Through conversations, personal reflections and the stories shared by contributors, I've repeatedly encountered familiar themes.

The desire to belong. The pressure to conform. The fear of rejection. The courage required to challenge expectations.

And, importantly, the extraordinary sense of liberation that can come from recognising that we were never required to become somebody else in the first place.

These experiences have reinforced something I believe passionately.

Genuine belonging doesn't require us to become more like everyone else. It gives us the freedom to become more fully ourselves.

This is where the symbolism of my tattoo feels particularly relevant.

The hummingbird represents individuality, resilience and freedom.

The heart represents love, compassion and acceptance.

Together, they remind me that these things shouldn't exist independently of one another.

Love should create the conditions in which individuality can flourish.

Belonging should provide the security that allows us to explore who we are, rather than restricting us to who others expect us to become.

And inclusion should never be confused with simply inviting people into existing environments while expecting them to leave important parts of themselves outside.

Our responsibility is to create environments in which people can participate, contribute and thrive without feeling that their differences are something to conceal.

This applies just as much to our workplaces and communities as it does to our personal relationships.

Finding beauty in our imperfections

One of my favourite connections to Cohen's work comes from Anthem , a song on The Future .

Its message about imperfection, vulnerability and the possibility of hope has always resonated with me.

We spend so much of our lives attempting to conceal our perceived imperfections.

We worry about being different, making mistakes, showing vulnerability or revealing aspects of ourselves that others might judge.

Yet these are frequently the very experiences that allow us to recognise our shared humanity.

Our differences don't diminish our worth.

Our vulnerabilities don't automatically undermine our strength.

And our experiences of adversity don't have to define the limits of what's possible for us.

Some of our most meaningful connections emerge when we stop pretending to be something we're not.

That doesn't mean romanticising hardship or suggesting that discrimination somehow makes us stronger.

Nobody should have to experience exclusion to discover their worth.

Rather, it's about recognising our capacity to find connection, compassion and hope, even when circumstances have been difficult.

Perhaps the imperfections we spend so much time attempting to conceal are part of what makes us beautifully human.

Listen to the hummingbird

There's one final connection to Cohen's work that makes this tattoo particularly meaningful.

Towards the end of his life, Cohen wrote Listen to the Hummingbird , subsequently released on his posthumous album Thanks for the Dance .

In it, he invites us to listen to the hummingbird rather than to him.

I find something wonderfully thought-provoking about that sentiment.

Here was an extraordinary poet and songwriter whose words had influenced generations, directing our attention away from himself and towards something in the natural world.

For me, it suggests the importance of curiosity, humility and recognising that wisdom doesn't always come from the loudest or most authoritative voices.

Sometimes, we need to pay attention to the things we've overlooked.

That idea has particular relevance to inclusion.

How often do we assume that we understand somebody else's experiences without really listening?

How frequently do our assumptions prevent us from recognising the extraordinary individuality of the people around us?

And how much might we learn if we approached difference with greater curiosity rather than judgement?

Perhaps listening to the hummingbird is also about learning to listen to ourselves.

Recognising our own needs, questioning the expectations we've inherited and discovering what genuinely gives our lives meaning.

And that brings me to the experience of creating the tattoo itself.

There's something rather special about finding an artist who understands that a tattoo can represent considerably more than the image itself.

When I arrived at Reverse Cowgirl Tattoo , I had an original idea and a clear sense of what I wanted the design to represent.

What I hadn't anticipated was just how meaningful the experience of creating it would become.

From the moment I arrived, I was made to feel genuinely welcome. The relaxed atmosphere, warmth and truly person-centred approach made the entire experience an absolute pleasure.

Ze was incredibly sensitive to my original vision, taking the time to understand not simply the design, but the personal meaning behind it.

She listened, asked questions and brought her own creativity, artistic interpretation and attention to detail to the process.

The result was something even more beautiful than I could ever have envisaged, without losing the essence of what made the original idea so meaningful.

And, reflecting on the experience afterwards, I realised there was something rather fitting about the whole process.

So much of my work explores the importance of recognising individuality, listening without judgement and creating environments in which people feel genuinely valued.

Here I was, experiencing precisely those qualities in a completely different setting.

Ze didn't simply reproduce an image or impose her own interpretation. She understood what mattered to me and used her extraordinary artistic talent to create something that felt entirely my own.

The friendly atmosphere created by the whole team, together with the many layers of interesting and engaging conversation, made the afternoon fly by.

It felt less like an appointment and more like spending time in the company of genuinely lovely people.

Ze was thoughtful, considerate and thoroughly professional throughout. I have enormous respect for her talent, creativity and integrity as an artist.

I'm absolutely thrilled with the finished tattoo and have already recommended Reverse Cowgirl Tattoo to others.

Beautiful artistry, wonderful people and an experience that was every bit as meaningful as the tattoo itself.

A reminder I carry with me

When I look at my tattoo now, I see considerably more than a hummingbird flying across a heart.

I see a reminder of my relationship with Richard, our experiences campaigning for equal marriage and the importance of challenging inequality.

I think about the people I've encountered throughout my career, particularly those who've spent significant parts of their lives feeling different, excluded or pressured to conform.

I think about the extraordinary stories shared by contributors to Never Blend In and the courage involved in choosing authenticity when the world seems determined to encourage conformity.

I think about Leonard Cohen's exploration of humanity: our contradictions, vulnerabilities, capacity for cruelty, extraordinary compassion and persistent search for something better.

And I'll remember an afternoon spent in the company of some genuinely lovely people, watching a talented artist transform something deeply personal into a beautiful piece of artwork.

What I particularly love about the hummingbird is that it doesn't need to become something bigger or more imposing to demonstrate its strength.

Its beauty lies in what it already is.

Perhaps there's a lesson in that for all of us.

We don't need to become somebody else to deserve love.

We don't need to conceal our differences to experience belonging.

And we don't need to wait for the world to become perfect before contributing to making it better.

The hummingbird and the heart remind me that love and freedom should never be competing forces.

The people who genuinely love and accept us don't require us to surrender our individuality. They give us the confidence and security to embrace it.

And perhaps that's ultimately what my work, my writing and this little piece of artwork have always been about.

The freedom to be ourselves. The courage to love. And the resilience to keep finding beauty in an imperfect world.

Because genuine belonging isn't about learning to fit in.

It's about discovering that we were good enough all along.

David E. Hull-Watters Writer | People & Culture Partner | Inclusion & Wellbeing Specialist

Author of the forthcoming Never Blend In – A Guide to Authentic Living in a World That Pressures You to Conform.

www.inclusionconsultant.co.uk

Give ‘em Hope Campaign

Equal Love UK

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Looking Beyond the Behaviour

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:24:47 GMT

What Might Self-Injurious Behaviour Be Communicating?

When a child or young person is hurting themselves, our understandable instinct is to focus on stopping the behaviour.

But sometimes an important first question is:

What might this behaviour be communicating?

For some neurodivergent children and young people, self-injurious behaviour may occur at times of significant distress, overwhelm or dysregulation — particularly when they are unable to communicate what they need in another way.

There may be many contributing factors, including:

• Anxiety or frustration

• Sensory overload

• Communication difficulties

• Changes to routines or expectations

• Too many demands

• Tiredness, hunger or physical discomfort

• Feeling a loss of control

• Accumulated overwhelm

And the person themselves may not necessarily be able to explain why it is happening — particularly when they are already overwhelmed.

In the moment, lots of questions may therefore add to the cognitive load. Reducing demands and sensory input where possible, using simple language, creating space and allowing time for regulation may be more helpful.

When things are calmer, we can explore different ways of communicating needs, emotions and overwhelm. These don’t always need to rely on spoken language. Visuals, colours, symbols, gestures, written words, emojis or other agreed methods can all provide alternative ways to communicate.

It can also be useful to look for patterns:

What happened beforehand?

What was the environment like?

Had something changed?

Were there lots of demands?

What happened afterwards?

And what appeared to help?

The aim isn’t simply to manage a behaviour.

It’s to understand the person experiencing it.

And because self-injurious behaviour can carry a risk of harm, it is important that families and those supporting a child or young person seek appropriate professional advice rather than feeling they have to understand or manage it alone.

Sometimes behaviour is communication.

Our job is to remain curious enough to ask what it might be telling us.

Useful resources

National Autistic Society – Self-injurious behaviour
Self-injurious behaviour guidance
Challenging Behaviour Foundation – Self-injurious behaviour
Self-injurious behaviour resources and guidance
NICE – Challenging behaviour and learning disabilities (NG11)
NICE guideline NG11
NICE – Learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges: service design and delivery (NG93)
NICE guideline NG93
National Autistic Society – Autism and self-harm
Autism and self-harm guidance
NHS – Where to get help for self-harm
NHS self-harm support and advice

If you’d like a confidential chat about this topic, please reach out: https://calendly.com/davidequalitywatters/book_a_call

He is an Associate Consultant and Trainer for the Onvero, EMBED Inclusion , and FireBird, and is represented as a Public Speaker by Champions Speakers , Diversity and Inclusion Speakers Agency , The Motivational Speakers Agency , All American Entertainment , and Evolve Talent and Speakers .

Additionally, he is the founder and coordinator of the international Give ‘em Hope Campaign ; Marriage Equality Pioneer who successfully campaigned for a change in marriage legislation by taking a legal case to the European Court of Human Rights with Equal Love UK and writer of the soon to be published LGBTQ+ Role Model book, Never Blend In .

Give ‘em Hope Campaign

Equal Love UK

NEVER BLEND IN

Social Media Links:

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Thankful Friday

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 07:27:52 GMT

Creating Respectful Workplace Cultures

Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending the day with colleagues at Cargill , delivering two sessions on Creating Respectful Workplace Cultures.

And this Thankful Friday, I’m feeling particularly grateful for the people who made the day such a positive experience.

One of the things I love about facilitating this kind of work is that no two sessions are ever the same. We can have a carefully planned slide deck and activities ready to go, but sometimes we need to be completely organic — listening to what is happening in the room, responding to what feels most relevant to participants and allowing the conversations that matter to develop.

Yesterday was a great example of that.

I thoroughly enjoyed both sessions and really appreciated the genuine interest, openness and willingness of colleagues to contribute as we explored respect, workplace behaviours, psychological safety and the part we can all play in creating cultures where people feel valued, included and able to speak up.

A huge thank you to Emma, Siân and Philip for coordinating everything, and a particularly big thank you to Siân, who looked after me brilliantly throughout the day and made sure everything ran smoothly.

And I have to give a special mention to the lovely receptionist who gave me the warmest welcome when I arrived and then, at the end of the day, went out of her way to help me work out how to get back to Lincoln.

It might seem like a small thing, but those moments of warmth, kindness and looking out for someone matter. In fact, they’re a pretty good demonstration of exactly what we’d been talking about all day — workplace culture is created through the everyday behaviours and interactions we have with one another.

So, on this Thankful Friday, thank you to everyone at Cargill who contributed to such an engaging, welcoming and positive day.

I have a feeling the conversation won’t end here…

Would you like to e xplore a wide range of practical, action-focused workshops and webinars designed to strengthen leadership, improve team performance, support wellbeing, develop talent and build healthy workplace cultures?

My sessions cover People & Culture, communication, psychological safety, recruitment, neurodiversity, disability confidence, employee experience and leadership development, with tailored programmes to meet the needs of your organisation.

See more HERE

Schedule a call HERE , to discuss your requirements

Supporting Autistic and otherwise Neurodivergent Children Through the School Holidays

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:26:55 GMT

A Different Kind of Summer

For many children, the summer holidays are presented as something to look forward to: six weeks without school, more freedom, holidays, days out and opportunities to spend time with family and friends.

For an autistic child, summer can absolutely be enjoyable too. But it can also bring challenges that are easily overlooked.

School, despite all the demands it may bring, often provides structure and predictability. There are familiar routines, known expectations and recognisable patterns to the day. When the summer holidays arrive, much of that can disappear overnight.

Suddenly, days may be less predictable. There may be holidays, visitors, unfamiliar places, busy attractions, changes to mealtimes and sleep routines, increased socialising and the expectation that children should be constantly doing something because they are "on holiday".

For some autistic children, that can be exhausting.

Perhaps we need to rethink what a successful summer actually looks like.

You don't have to fill every day

There can be enormous pressure on parents and carers to create a summer packed with experiences.

But more isn't necessarily better.

An autistic child may benefit from having space between activities, maintaining familiar routines and knowing that they don't have to participate in everything.

A day at home engaging with a favourite interest isn't necessarily a "wasted day". It might be exactly what that child needs.

The goal doesn't have to be keeping children constantly entertained. Instead, we can focus on creating the conditions in which they feel safe, understood and in control .

Keep some predictability

The school routine may have disappeared, but that doesn't mean all structure has to disappear with it.

Keeping a few familiar anchors — perhaps waking, meals and bedtime — can make the day feel more predictable without creating an overly rigid timetable.

Visual schedules, calendars or simple written plans can also help.

If you're going somewhere, try explaining in advance what will happen: where you're going, how you're getting there, who will be there, what you might do and approximately when you'll return.

And if plans change, give as much warning as you reasonably can.

For many autistic children, knowing what to expect reduces the amount of uncertainty they have to process .

Think about the sensory environment

Summer itself can create additional sensory demands.

Heat. Bright sunlight. Crowds. Noise. Unfamiliar smells. Busy airports. Festivals. Theme parks. Restaurants. Different beds. Different foods.

Before assuming that a child simply doesn't want to participate, consider what the environment may be asking of their sensory system.

Could you visit somewhere at a quieter time? Could the outing be shorter? Is there somewhere quiet they can retreat to? Could headphones or ear defenders, sunglasses, familiar clothing, sensory aids or a favourite object help?

And importantly, can they leave if it becomes too much?

Sometimes the most effective adjustment isn't teaching a child to tolerate an overwhelming environment. It's changing the environment so that it becomes less overwhelming .

Communicate differently

Communication is another area where small changes can make a significant difference.

Use clear, direct language and allow processing time. Try not to repeat a question several times simply because an answer hasn't arrived immediately.

And remember that spoken communication isn't the only valid form of communication.

Writing, texting, pictures, gestures or other communication methods may sometimes be easier.

Rather than asking, "What's wrong?", which can be an incredibly difficult question to answer when someone is already overwhelmed, it may be more helpful to offer concrete possibilities:

Is it too noisy? Do you need some space? Would you like to leave?

Communication should help a child express what they need, not become another demand they have to manage.

Give genuine choice and autonomy

Children need boundaries, of course, but they also benefit from having meaningful control over aspects of their lives.

Instead of automatically deciding the day's activities, offer manageable choices:

"Would you rather go swimming or stay at home today?"

"Would you like to come with us or have some quiet time?"

"Would you like to stay another half-hour or go home?"

And wherever possible, allow "no" to be a legitimate answer.

Giving autonomy doesn't mean abandoning boundaries or responsibilities. It means recognising that autistic children should have a voice in decisions that affect them.

That is also how we begin developing self-advocacy .

Don't underestimate the importance of interests

An autistic child's passionate or focused interests are sometimes viewed as something adults should broaden, interrupt or limit.

But those interests can provide far more than entertainment.

They may offer familiarity, expertise, enjoyment, connection, predictability and an important means of self-regulation.

Summer can provide a wonderful opportunity to let children spend more time exploring the

things that genuinely fascinate them.

Instead of asking, "How do we get them away from this interest?", we might ask, "How can we use this interest to help them connect, learn, relax and enjoy their summer?"

Support regulation, rather than demanding compliance

Stimming, movement, pacing, rocking, repeating favourite words or phrases, using sensory objects or spending time alone can all serve an important regulatory purpose.

Before asking a child to stop something, consider why they might be doing it .

Are they overwhelmed?

Are they regulating sensory input?

Are they anxious?

Are they trying to communicate something?

Are they simply happy?

If a behaviour isn't causing harm, we don't automatically need to suppress it simply because it looks different.

The question becomes less "How do I make them stop?" and more "What is this telling me about what they need?"

Remember that enjoyable things can still be exhausting

A child can love an activity and still need significant recovery time afterwards.

A family gathering, theme park, holiday, cinema trip or afternoon with friends may have been genuinely enjoyable while also requiring enormous amounts of sensory, social and emotional processing.

That's why downtime matters.

Rather than scheduling one activity after another, consider building recovery time into the plan from the beginning.

Sometimes an empty day on the calendar is an adjustment in itself.

Teach self-advocacy — and then listen

One of the most valuable things we can give autistic children is the confidence to understand and communicate their own needs.

Help them develop language — spoken or otherwise — to communicate:

"It's too noisy."

"I need a break."

"I don't understand."

"Please don't touch me."

"I need more time."

"I want to leave."

But teaching those phrases is only half of the equation.

Adults then need to listen when children use them.

If we encourage children to communicate their boundaries but routinely override those boundaries when they're inconvenient, we're not really teaching self-advocacy.

We're teaching them that speaking up doesn't change anything.

Let their summer look like their summer

Perhaps one of the biggest adjustments adults can make is letting go of our own idea of what childhood summers are supposed to look like.

For one child, the perfect summer might involve travelling, adventure and being surrounded by people.

For another, it might mean familiar food, favourite clothes, long periods engaged in a special interest, fewer social demands, predictable routines and plenty of time at home.

Neither is inherently better.

Neuroinclusion isn't about helping autistic children become better at tolerating environments designed without them in mind. It is about recognising barriers, respecting individual needs and being willing to change what we do too.

So perhaps one question can guide parents and carers throughout the summer:

Don't just ask, "How can I help my child cope with this environment?"

Ask, "What can I change about the environment so they don't have to work so hard to cope?"

That small shift can make a very big difference.

If you'd like to talk more about this and receive 121 support, please book in a time to chat HERE

Please share this with anyone who may benefit.

Additionally, he is the founder and coordinator of the international Give ‘em Hope Campaign ; Marriage Equality Pioneer who successfully campaigned for a change in marriage legislation by taking a legal case to the European Court of Human Rights with Equal Love UK and writer of the soon to be published LGBTQ+ Role Model book, Never Blend In .

Give ‘em Hope Campaign

Equal Love UK

NEVER BLEND IN

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Creating Inclusive and Psychologically Safe Environments

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:49:34 GMT

It’s What We Create Together

As another busy week draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the brilliant people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and working with over the past few days.

It has been one of those weeks that reminds me why I love doing what I do.

Across the sessions I’ve delivered, people have been friendly, engaged and engaging, bringing curiosity, candour and openness to our conversations. Without exception, they have brought their own experiences, insights and perspectives into the room and been willing to share them generously with others.

And that matters, because the best learning spaces are never simply about what the facilitator brings into the room.

They’re about what we create together.

What does an inclusive and psychologically safe environment actually look like?

We can sometimes make inclusion sound far more complicated than it needs to be.

Policies, frameworks and strategies are important, of course, but ultimately people experience inclusion through their interactions with other people.

It is in whether we feel listened to. Whether somebody takes an interest in what we have to say. Whether our needs are anticipated rather than treated as an inconvenience. Whether we can ask a question without feeling foolish, make a mistake without being diminished, or offer a different perspective without fearing how it will be received.

This week, particularly when thinking about our work with young people, we explored some of the ways we can intentionally create environments that feel both inclusive and psychologically safe.

For me, that includes showing empathy and genuine curiosity, communicating with respect and kindness, listening actively without judgement and valuing every young person’s voice and perspective.

It means using inclusive and accessible language, encouraging participation without pressure, recognising and responding to individual needs and finding different ways for

everyone to contribute.

It also means normalising mistakes as part of learning and building trust through consistency and authenticity.

None of these things requires us to have all the answers.

They require us to pay attention to the people in front of us.

Then I asked colleagues what they thought

One of the things I particularly enjoyed this week was hearing how colleagues themselves create inclusive and psychologically safe environments.

The Post-it notes quickly filled up.

There were some practical suggestions: understanding access requirements in advance; setting clear expectations around roles and responsibilities; creating group agreements; thinking carefully about how information is communicated; and deliberately making time for one-to-one conversations.

But there were also lots of wonderfully human responses.

Being a friendly face.

Creating a warm welcome.

Listening.

Being open and approachable.

Being curious about people and their lives.

Creating space for questions and concerns.

And even using fun and silly icebreakers.

One colleague talked about treating everyone as an individual and adapting their approach.

Another highlighted recognising that everyone brings different lived experiences into the room.

Others spoke about listening, recognising and empathising with people’s thoughts and opinions; building relationships that allow for open and honest conversations; sharing some of their own experiences and anxieties where appropriate; and creating an open-door culture where people know they can talk.

There were also important contributions about checking in, creating appropriate boundaries and being direct but fair .

Taken individually, some of these things might seem small.

Collectively, however, they describe something much bigger.

Psychological safety is created in the everyday

What struck me looking at all those Post-it notes was how few of the responses were about grand initiatives.

They were about behaviour .

They were about how we communicate, listen, respond, welcome, include and relate to one another.

That is important because we cannot simply announce that an environment is inclusive or psychologically safe and expect people to believe us.

People decide whether they feel safe through their experiences.

If I tell somebody that their voice matters but repeatedly interrupt them, what have I communicated?

If I say everyone is welcome but haven't considered whether everyone can access the space, how inclusive is that welcome?

If I encourage people to contribute but only value the loudest or most confident voices, who might I be missing?

And if I tell people it is okay to make mistakes but respond harshly when they do, which message are they actually going to believe?

Culture is not simply what we say. It is what people repeatedly experience.

Inclusion doesn’t mean treating everybody the same

Another theme running through many of the contributions was adaptability.

Treating people fairly doesn't necessarily mean treating everybody identically.

Different people arrive with different experiences, communication preferences, strengths, needs, anxieties and ways of participating.

For some people, contributing confidently in a large group might feel completely natural.

Someone else may need time to process a question before responding. Another person might communicate far more effectively one-to-one.

Someone may need information in advance. Someone else may need an adjustment to participate fully. And sometimes people simply need to know that choosing not to contribute at a particular moment is also acceptable.

Creating an inclusive environment therefore requires curiosity rather than assumption.

Instead of asking, “Why aren't they participating in the way I expected?”, perhaps we should ask: “What might help this person participate in a way that works for them?”

That small shift can completely change our approach.

Leadership happens in these moments too

Although many of this week's conversations were about working effectively with young people, I think the lessons apply far more widely.

They apply to managers, leaders, trainers, educators and colleagues.

Leadership isn't demonstrated only through strategies, decisions and targets. It is also demonstrated in those everyday moments when somebody approaches us with a concern, makes a mistake, disagrees with us, needs something different or simply wants to know that somebody is listening.

Do we make time?

Do we become defensive?

Do we make assumptions?

Or do we remain curious?

Creating healthy workplace cultures requires people who understand that how we make people feel when they interact with us matters.

What we create together

Perhaps that is my biggest reflection from this week.

As a facilitator, I can prepare the content, design the activities, ask the questions and create the conditions for conversation.

But I cannot create the learning experience alone.

Everyone in the room contributes to it.

Every question, challenge, story, reflection and different perspective adds something that wasn't there before.

That is why I am so grateful to everyone who has joined me this week and contributed with such generosity, curiosity and candour.

It has felt genuinely productive and collaborative, but more importantly, it has reminded me of something fundamental to my work:

Inclusion isn't something we do to people. It is something we create with people.

And sometimes its foundations are remarkably simple:

Listen. Be curious. Be kind. Be adaptable. Make space. Build trust.

And perhaps throw in the occasional silly icebreaker too.

So, to all the clients and colleagues I’ve had the pleasure of working with this week: thank you.

You have taught me things too.

Have a wonderful weekend.

David E. Hull-Watters
People & Culture Partner | Inclusion & Wellbeing Specialist

Culture & Leadership

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:03:48 GMT

I’d be really interested to hear from others working in this space: how is your work evolving, and what are organisations asking you for now that they weren’t asking for a year or two ago?

Over the past week, I’ve been really thankful to speak with a number of colleagues working across inclusion, People & Culture and organisational development, and to hear just how similar our experiences have been.

There is a definite shift taking place in the conversations organisations are having, the language they are using and the support they are looking for. For me, those conversations have helped crystallise where my own work is heading.

My focus is increasingly on Culture & Leadership : helping organisations develop the people, behaviours and environments that enable everyone to do their best work.

That means developing emerging and aspiring leaders with the confidence, self-awareness and practical skills to lead diverse people effectively.

It means creating workplace cultures where people feel valued, respected and able to contribute — where they can share ideas, ask questions, offer different perspectives and learn without fear of judgement.

And it means equipping people with the confidence and skills to communicate openly and respectfully, navigate differences, address issues when they arise and build stronger working relationships.

Inclusion remains fundamental to my work. I’m not moving away from inclusion; I’m widening the conversation around it.

Rather than treating inclusion as something separate, I want to place it where I believe it has always belonged: at the heart of good leadership, positive workplace culture and the everyday experience of people at work.

Because ultimately, culture is created in the everyday.

It’s how we lead. How we listen. How we communicate. How we respond when someone speaks up. How we navigate difference and disagreement. How we make decisions. And how people experience us when things become difficult.

For me, this isn’t about abandoning the work I’ve done before. It’s about taking everything I’ve learned through years of inclusion work and applying it more broadly to the challenges organisations and their people are facing now.

That’s the direction I’m excited to be taking my work.

Culture. Leadership. Communication. Inclusion.

All with the same purpose I’ve always had: helping create workplaces where people can belong, contribute and thrive.

Are organisations moving away from inclusion, or are we beginning to recognise that inclusion needs to be embedded much more deeply within leadership and workplace culture?

Explore my Culture & Leadership work

#CultureAndLeadership #InclusiveLeadership #PeopleAndCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture

People and Culture vs DEI

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:02:56 GMT

People & Culture isn’t replacing inclusion. It’s where inclusion delivers its greatest impact.

Over the past year, I’ve noticed a significant shift in the conversations I’m having with clients.

Fewer organisations are asking for “DEI training.”

Instead, they’re asking how to:

• retain talented people

• develop better managers

• improve wellbeing and engagement

• build psychologically safe teams

• strengthen workplace culture

• navigate change with confidence

These aren’t different conversations.

They’re the natural evolution of them.

For me, inclusion has never been about ticking boxes or delivering one-off awareness sessions. It’s always been about helping organisations create environments where people can thrive and, in doing so, achieve better outcomes for everyone.

That’s why I’m increasingly describing myself as a People & Culture Partner.

The title may have evolved, but the purpose remains the same: helping organisations build stronger leaders, healthier cultures and workplaces where talented people want to stay.

If that’s the direction your organisation is heading, I’d love to be part of the journey.

Find out more about my approach at www.inclusionconsultant.co.uk/about-us

Why Partner with David?

Today’s most successful organisations understand that people and culture are not support functions—they are strategic drivers of performance, innovation and sustainable growth.

David E. Hull-Watters partners with forward-thinking organisations to help leaders build workplaces where people perform at their best because they feel respected, trusted and able to contribute authentically.

Combining award-winning expertise, lived experience and a commercially aware approach, David works with People & Culture, HR, Learning & Development and leadership teams to turn organisational values into everyday behaviours. His programmes move beyond awareness to develop confident leaders, strengthen psychological safety, improve employee experience and create cultures where people and organisations thrive together.

Every session is tailored to your organisation’s priorities, whether that’s attracting and retaining talent, developing inclusive leadership, supporting wellbeing, navigating organisational change or embedding a culture of belonging that drives engagement and performance.

Clients value David’s ability to balance empathy with challenge, combining compelling storytelling with practical strategies that inspire reflection, spark meaningful conversations and deliver lasting behavioural change.

If your ambition is to build a workplace where great people choose to join, stay and succeed, David will help you create the culture that makes it possible.

Because exceptional organisations are built by exceptional cultures—and exceptional cultures are built by exceptional leaders.

#PeopleAndCulture #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #PsychologicalSafety #EmployeeExperience #HR #LearningAndDevelopment #OrganisationalDevelopment #InclusiveLeadership #FutureOfWork

Having Difficult Conversations

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 10:00:40 GMT

Building Confidence Through Courage and Compassion

Most of us don't avoid difficult conversations because we don't care—we avoid them because we don't know how to begin. Yet handled well, these conversations can strengthen relationships, build trust and create healthier workplace cultures.

Preparation is key. Be clear about the behaviour you want to discuss, the impact it has had and the outcome you're hoping to achieve. Approach the conversation with curiosity rather than judgement, listen actively, acknowledge emotions and focus on understanding before responding.

Simple conversation starters can make all the difference. Frameworks such as "When you... I feel... because... In future I would like..." or asking open questions like "Could you tell me more about what you mean?" help create dialogue rather than defensiveness. Separating intent from impact, encouraging empathy and challenging stereotypes respectfully can all lead to more constructive outcomes.

Successful conversations also depend on emotional intelligence. Choose the right environment, allow space for silence, preserve the relationship, remain consistent and agree clear actions before closing the discussion. Like any skill, confidence grows with practice.

Difficult conversations are rarely easy, but they are often where the greatest learning, growth and positive change begin.

For more practical guidance, conversation starters and techniques, check out these additional tips:
Courageous Conversations – Practical Tips

Bias isn’t always loud and obvious

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 08:31:08 GMT

We often think of bias as something overt. The offensive comment. The public confrontation. The headline-making incident.

But bias is just as likely to appear in the moments that go unnoticed by everyone except the person experiencing them.

It’s being overlooked despite your experience. Being held to a different standard. Having your concerns questioned or dismissed.

Feeling that you have to work twice as hard to be taken seriously. Watching opportunities quietly pass you by without ever knowing why.

Sometimes it’s the assumptions people make about your age, your disability, your race, your faith, your gender, your sexual orientation, your gender identity, your neurodivergence, your accent or your background.

Sometimes it’s not what is said at all, but what isn’t.

Any one of these moments might seem insignificant in isolation. They can be explained away, rationalised or dismissed as coincidence.

Yet when they happen repeatedly, they create a pattern that affects confidence, wellbeing, trust and a person’s sense of belonging.

The reality is that many of us, particularly those from underrepresented or marginalised communities, recognise this feeling. While our experiences are not identical, there is often far more that unites us than divides us.

That’s why inclusion isn’t about deciding whose barriers matter most. It’s about recognising that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, fairness and respect. When we listen to one another, remain curious about experiences different from our own and challenge bias wherever we encounter it, we create environments where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

We are stronger when we stand together than when we allow ourselves to be divided.

Because bias isn’t always loud and obvious, but its impact can be profound.

What does “quiet bias” look like to you, and what can we all do to recognise and challenge it?

#Bias #Inclusion #Belonging #PsychologicalSafety #PeopleAndCulture

Happy Disability Pride Month!

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 08:27:01 GMT

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Behind Every Case is a Person: Impact Matters. People Matter

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 08:21:45 GMT

Over the past few months I’ve been involved in a formal complaint that has forced me to reflect on something much bigger than the individual issues themselves.

The complaint isn’t really about one investigation or one decision. It’s about what happens when organisations lose sight of the human being behind the case.

A straightforward issue became a prolonged process.

Communication broke down.

Assumptions replaced conversations.

Delays created uncertainty.

The cumulative impact on our wellbeing became far greater than the original issue ever warranted.

One of the things I explore in my training is that impact matters just as much as intent.

Most people don’t come to work intending to cause distress, yet processes that aren’t person-centred can do exactly that.

Whether we work in housing, healthcare, education, HR or customer services, every policy is experienced by a real person with their own circumstances, history, health and vulnerabilities.

Sometimes the most important question isn’t, “Have we followed the process?”

It’s, “Have we treated this person with dignity, curiosity and compassion?”

That’s why I’ve always believed that inclusion isn’t a separate agenda.

It’s about how we communicate, how we make decisions, how we exercise judgement and how we make people feel.

If any good comes from this experience, I hope it’s a reminder that organisations don’t build trust through policies alone. They build it through everyday interactions, proportionality, empathy and genuinely person-centred leadership.

#PeopleAndCulture #Leadership #PsychologicalSafety #PersonCentred #Inclusion

Practical, Outcome-focussed DEI Training

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 12:26:59 GMT

An Holistic Approach to Inclusion and Wellbeing

Are you looking to create a truly inclusive workplace or community space?

I believe that inclusion is not just a box to tick - it’s a culture to build.

I’m a passionate advocate for intersectional inclusion, because we are all beautifully multifaceted humans who can collectively bring so much to our communities when given the psychological space to thrive.

I provide training, consultancy, and keynote talks tailored to help organisations embed real, lasting change.

Get in touch, if you’d like to work collaboratively to foster environments where everyone can thrive.

Let’s move beyond “diversity statements” and into real action.

Find out more: www.inclusionconsultant.co.uk

#InclusionMatters #LGBTQInclusion #Neurodiversity #Disability #EquityAndInclusion #InclusiveLeadership #InclusiveRecruitment #Intersectionality #Allyship #PsychologicalSafety

Calling all Agents and Publishers - LGBTQIA+ Non-fiction

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 12:18:42 GMT

NEVER BLEND IN is almost ready - find out more

Time to get myself a publisher or an agent, so that I can finally get this book out there! Any leads or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Never Blend In is more than a book - it’s a movement for change.

Created by David E. Hull-Watters, Never Blend In: LGBTQ+ Stories of Resilience and Empowerment shares powerful, authentic voices from across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.

This project uplifts stories of survival, joy, and resistance - especially from those too often pushed to the margins, including trans, nonbinary, BIPOC, disabled, and neurodivergent LGBTQIA+ people.

It’s a call to action: to listen, to learn, and to lead with empathy.

Learn more & get involved: https://www.inclusionconsultant.co.uk/neverblendin

#IntersectionalInclusion

Exciting Champions Speakers Agency News

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 13:45:40 GMT

David Hull-Watters joins the Champions Speakers Agency as their Leading DEI Keynote Speaker

I'm thrilled to announce a new chapter in my journey as a leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) speaker in the UK. I've partnered with Champions Speakers , the UK's premier keynote speaker agency, to extend the reach and impact of my work.

For years, I've been dedicated to fostering inclusive environments through my work as a specialist trauma-informed teacher, as an inclusion consultant and campaigner, and as creator of the Give 'em Hope Campaign. My expertise spans neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and mental health awareness, and I've had the privilege of collaborating with esteemed organisations like the British Transport Police, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, and the British Library.

These experiences have reinforced my commitment to creating workplaces where everyone can thrive.

Joining forces with Champions Speakers, as their leading DEI keynote speaker, is a significant step forward. Their reputation for connecting audiences with top-tier speakers aligns perfectly with my mission to inspire positive change. This partnership will enable me to engage with a broader audience, sharing insights and strategies that promote inclusivity and well-being across various sectors.

Chris Tompkins, Senior Keynote Manager at Champions Speakers, shared his excitement about the partnership:

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be working with David Hull-Watters. His dedication to championing DEI and creating lasting cultural change is both inspiring and timely. David brings a wealth of lived experience and professional insight that will greatly benefit our clients and their audiences.”

I'm excited about the opportunities this collaboration brings and look forward to contributing to a more inclusive future. Together with Champions Speakers, the parent company which also includes the Diversity and Inclusion Speakers Agency , and the Mental health Speakers Agency we aim to empower individuals and organisations to embrace diversity and create environments where everyone feels valued and supported.

If you're interested in learning more about my work or booking me for an event, please visit the Champions Speakers website. https://champions-speakers.co.uk/speaker-agent/david-hull-watters

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Allyship in Practice

David E. Hull-Watters People & Culture Partner | Inclusion & Wellbeing Specialist inclusionconsultant.co.uk

Over time, those choices can strengthen trust, widen opportunities and help create places where more people feel respected, valued and able to be themselves.

Everyday actions for LGBTQ+ inclusive workplaces

Prepare for a courageous conversation

Choose a helpful response

Make your request clear

Support the person affected

If you get it wrong

Make allyship an everyday habit

Your next step

Continue your learning

David E. Hull-Watters People & Culture Partner | Inclusion & Wellbeing Specialist inclusionconsultant.co.uk

World Mental Health Day 2026

You Belong Here

The Hummingbird and the Heart

Love, Freedom and Never Blending In

The Future:

Finding hope in an imperfect world

The hummingbird:

The strength to remain ourselves

The heart:

Love should never require conformity

The open handcuffs (which I chose not to include): Freedom from expectations

Never Blend In: The freedom to belong

Finding beauty in our imperfections

Listen to the hummingbird

A reminder I carry with me

Looking Beyond the Behaviour

Thankful Friday

Creating Respectful Workplace Cultures

Supporting Autistic and otherwise Neurodivergent Children Through the School Holidays

Creating Inclusive and Psychologically Safe Environments

It’s What We Create Together

What does an inclusive and psychologically safe environment actually look like?

Then I asked colleagues what they thought

Inclusion doesn’t mean treating everybody the same

Leadership happens in these moments too

What we create together

Culture & Leadership

People and Culture vs DEI

Having Difficult Conversations

Building Confidence Through Courage and Compassion

Bias isn’t always loud and obvious

Happy Disability Pride Month!

Behind Every Case is a Person: Impact Matters. People Matter

Practical, Outcome-focussed DEI Training

An Holistic Approach to Inclusion and Wellbeing

Calling all Agents and Publishers - LGBTQIA+ Non-fiction

NEVER BLEND IN is almost ready - find out more

Exciting Champions Speakers Agency News

David Hull-Watters joins the Champions Speakers Agency as their Leading DEI Keynote Speaker

David E. Hull-Watters
People & Culture Partner | Inclusion & Wellbeing Specialist
inclusionconsultant.co.uk

David E. Hull-Watters
People & Culture Partner | Inclusion & Wellbeing Specialist
inclusionconsultant.co.uk