 When it comes to planning engagement activities that align with a key date relating to inclusion, it is sometimes easy to default to a lunchtime talk or panel discussion and move on. But panel events are not the only way to mark key inclusion dates. If you want these moments to have measurable impact, it worth thinking about format as well as content. Different people engage in different ways. Some enjoy discussion. Others prefer reflection. Some want something social. Others need flexibility around workload and caring responsibilities. Here are six practical ways to approach inclusion key dates differently. 1. Plan themed socials across a week or month: Instead of one flagship event, run a series of informal, themed socials hosted by different teams. This could include a culture themed coffee morning, a shared playlist, a bring and share lunch, or a storytelling session where colleagues talk about traditions that matter to them. Spreading activity across several days increases access. It allows shift workers, part time colleagues and remote teams to take part. It also reduces the pressure on one event to carry the message. 2. Visit a museum or heritage site: Not every learning experience needs to happen in your meeting room. Organise a visit to a local museum, exhibition or heritage site linked to the awareness theme. This supports existing cultural spaces and removes the burden from colleagues to educate others about their lived experience. For example, during Black History Month you might visit a local exhibition on migration or industry. For Pride, a guided tour of local LGBTQ+ history can spark reflection in a different way than a slide deck ever could! 3. Host a screening: Films and documentaries can open up complex conversations in a low pressure setting. Choose a short documentary, a feature film or even a recorded theatre performance. Follow it with optional small group discussion rather than a formal Q and A. Provide prompt questions in advance for those who prefer to reflect quietly before speaking. A screening works well for topics that benefit from storytelling and emotional connection, such as disability awareness or International Women’s Day. 4. Combine it with a wellbeing activity Awareness days often touch on themes that link closely to mental and physical health. Create space for care as well as conversation. You might run a guided walk connected to Refugee Week, a mindfulness session during World Mental Health Day, or open a quiet themed space where colleagues can drop in and reflect. This signals that inclusion and wellbeing are connected, and that you take both seriously. 5. Collaborate with your charity partner: If your organisation already works with a charity or community partner, explore where there is genuine overlap with the awareness theme. You might co create a workshop, invite them to run a practical skills session, or organise a volunteering opportunity. The key is alignment. When your external partnerships and internal focus connect, the activity feels purposeful rather than performative. 6. Create self access activities: Not everyone can attend live sessions. Some people learn best in their own time. Design activities colleagues can engage with at their own pace. This might include a curated exhibition in a communal area, a digital resource hub, a short quiz, reflective worksheets, or a display highlighting stories and achievements linked to the theme. Self access options are particularly effective for global teams working across time zones, or where you have a range of different shift patterns. So before you plan your next awareness date Ask yourself:
And we would love to hear from you. What alternative approaches have worked in your organisation, or what would you be willing to try? 👇🏽 
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