Chris Ward: International Non-Binary People’s Day – The Power of Being Seen
International Non-Binary People’s Day coincides beautifully with my start at a new job – working in the EDI Directorate at The University of Manchester. In the two weeks I have been here, I have had a lot of time to reflect on the profound value of working within an environment that allows you to be yourself fully, without compromise.
Dr. Jahanara Miah and Dr. Binish Khatoon: From Vision to Community – Reflecting on the Launch of the South Asian Women in Higher Education (SAWHE) Network
There are moments in professional life when certain experiences feel more meaningful and memorable than the usual routine of conferences and networking events. The launch event of the South Asian Women in Higher Education (SAWHE) Network at Manchester Museum on 5th June 2026 was one of those moments. Funded by five teams at UK Universities, including the University of Manchester Social responsibility teams, Manchester metropolitan University, University of Kent, Liverpool John Moores University EDI teams and Global Mental Health and Psychiatry centre, it marked the public launch of an idea that had developed over many months through shared lived experiences, collective effort, determination, and conversations over a cup of chai (tea). It was a privilege to co-host the day, and we write this reflection to capture something we do not want to lose: the feeling of being in that room.
Luke Nield: Reflecting on Inclusive Leadership, Following UoM LGBTQ+ and EDIA Training
Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to take part in two development programmes at the University: the LGBTQ+ Leadership Programme, delivered with On the Level, and the EDIA Champions Training, led by Be What You See Consultancy. Both have genuinely transformed how I think about leadership, allyship, and inclusion in everyday practice.
Freddie Jones, Heather Cockayne and Ro Procter: Celebrating Disability Pride – Creativity, Community and Inclusion at the University of Manchester
This year’s Disability Pride celebrations were united by a simple ambition: to celebrate disabled creativity, amplify disabled voices, and challenge assumptions about disability through culture, community, and inclusive research.
Conor Collins: Queer Up North archive
This summer I am exhibiting a new body of work at HOME, created in response to the Queer Up North archive. The exhibition is called To See and Be Seen. It is about memory. About Manchester. About queer lives that refused to disappear. About what happens when fragments of photographs, flyers, stories and protests survive long enough to become history. Some of the works are joyful. Some are defiant. Some ask difficult questions. All of them begin with a simple thought: What does it mean to be seen? There is a preview : 6pm – 8pm on 7th July at HOME at the Granada Studios (the first and second floor of home)
Exhibition runs July–October. I would be delighted to see some of your faces there: https://www.homemcr.org/whats-on/to-see-and-be-seen-by-conor-collins-dnkx
Dr Antoinette McKane & Dr Swati Sharma: The Hidden Wellbeing Crisis in Research
Behind the pursuit of discovery, many researchers are quietly struggling with wellbeing challenges shaped by academic structures, workplace culture, and personal pressures. This blog post explores three key challenges and prompts reflection on researcher wellbeing as a shared institutional responsibility.
Melanie Price: Wellbeing in June
Wellbeing is a term we hear frequently, and with good reason. It encompasses our physical, social and mental health, and it is encouraging to see how much progress has been made in recognising its importance. Not long ago, many people felt they simply had to “get on with it,” regardless of how challenging life became. 1 in 6 people of employable age experience mental health problems, with 50% of work days lost due to mental health illness.
Rachel Heyes: Digital Accessibility for Professional Services (PS) Colleagues
As PS colleagues, we create and share a wide range of digital content such as emails, documents, forms, presentations, webpages, images, and event information. This content shapes our communication and how people access our resources. Digital accessibility isn’t an add-on; it’s integral to our work.
Heike Holubek: Aromantic Visibility Day 05 June 2026 – Challenges of living in an amato-normative society
In my previous blog I focussed on the grey-sexual part of my identity. This follow up’s topics refers to the grey-romantic aspect of my identity. I was sure from an early age that I was never going to marry, but, of course, everyone thinks you will change your mind, at least once you have met the “right” person. Every nut has its bolt, hasn’t it? Once grown up, matured, etc. every “normal” person will want to settle down with a spouse and start building their nuclear unit…
Aisha Akram and Stephen Doyle: Mental Health Awareness Week (11th – 17th May)
The LGBTQ+ community in the UK experiences disproportionately high levels of poor mental health compared with the wider population. Research consistently demonstrates elevated rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and psychological distress among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals. Importantly, these inequalities are not caused by LGBTQ+ identity itself, but by discrimination, stigma, social exclusion and unequal access to support services.
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