Making Space celebrates National Inclusion Week® 2026
Published 6 September 2026
Making Space is proud to celebrate National Inclusion Week® 2026 (14–20 September), joining organisations across the UK in recognising the importance of creating workplaces and communities where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive.
Organised by Inclusive Employers, National Inclusion Week is an annual opportunity to celebrate inclusion, encourage action and recognise the difference we can all make.
This year's theme, Build Trust. Navigate Change., reflects the challenges organisations and individuals are facing in a changing world. Workplaces are evolving, expectations are shifting and inclusion work can face increasing pressures – making it more important than ever to listen, build trust and continue taking meaningful action.
For Making Space, the theme feels particularly relevant. Over the past year, our own Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) journey has moved from setting out our ambitions to putting them into practice. We've launched our first organisation-wide EDI Strategy, Creating a Place for Everyone, grown our network of EDI Ambassadors, invested in learning and inclusive leadership, reviewed our policies and seen colleagues and services find their own ways to make inclusion part of everyday life.
Creating a Place for Everyone
Last year, during National Inclusion Week 2025, we shared how our EDI Ambassadors were working with leadership and inclusion consultancy Purple Infusion to develop our first organisation-wide EDI Strategy.
Since then, we have reached a major milestone with the launch of Creating a Place for Everyone – our EDI Strategy and three-year Action Plan 2025–2028.
The strategy sets out our shared vision:
“We are dedicated to creating a place for everyone where diversity is embraced, equity is championed, and all individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. Together, we are building a community where everyone belongs.”
Supported by our EDI Steering Group and growing network of EDI Ambassadors, the strategy gives us a clear framework for turning our commitment to inclusion into meaningful and lasting change.
And over the past year, we've already started to see that happening.
From strategy to action
Our EDI Ambassador network has continued to grow, reaching around 35 colleagues from across Making Space by May.
In March, current and prospective Ambassadors took part in dedicated EDI training, building confidence in having conversations about inclusion, challenging bias respectfully and encouraging meaningful action within their teams.
Senior leaders, managers and trustees also took part in a Conscious Inclusion – Inclusive Leadership Masterclass, exploring the important role leadership plays in creating an inclusive organisation and embedding EDI into everyday practice.
Our three-year Action Plan is also influencing the policies and processes that shape working life at Making Space.
Supported by Purple Infusion, Equality Impact Assessments and input from our EDI Ambassadors, we have been reviewing policies to ensure they are inclusive, accessible and reflect the diverse needs of our colleagues, volunteers and the people who draw on our support.
This has included the launch of our new Transgender and Non-Binary Inclusion Policy in July, alongside updates to policies covering recruitment, DBS, performance development, grievances and work-life balance.
Inclusion in action
Some of the most powerful examples of EDI aren't found in strategies or policies – they're happening every day in our services. Our EDI journey is ultimately about people putting inclusion into practice, and this year's Making Space Colleague Awards gave us another opportunity to celebrate some fantastic examples from across the organisation.
The Diversity & Inclusion Award, sponsored by Countrywide Healthcare, recognises colleagues who champion equity and inclusion, challenge barriers and help create environments where everyone feels valued and respected.
The 2026 finalists were:
Palmyra Team – Liverpool
The Palmyra Team has created a culture where celebrating different backgrounds, identities and experiences has become part of everyday life. Their year-round EDI programme includes cultural sessions exploring Nigerian, Irish and Northern Irish culture, as well as Black History Month and LGBTQ+ awareness. Projects including Journeys to Palmyra, Hope Happens Here and Playlist of Hope have created opportunities for colleagues and people who draw on support to share their experiences, learn from one another and celebrate what makes their community unique.
The team was named the 2026 Diversity & Inclusion Award winner, with judges praising them for making diversity and inclusion “a way of life” rather than simply an initiative.
Rebecca Horridge – Project Development Worker, Wellbeing Services
Rebecca has worked to make support and workplace practices more accessible and inclusive, particularly for people within the prison setting.
Alongside developing engaging training and resources to improve understanding of diversity and inclusion, Rebecca has redesigned probation, supervision and one-to-one forms to make them more inclusive for colleagues. She has also developed a questionnaire to help identify reasonable adjustments and ensure people receive the support they need. Her willingness to learn, share her knowledge and encourage others to think differently is helping embed inclusive practice into everyday ways of working.
Cathy Millward – Support Worker, Stockport Connect Hub
Cathy identified a gap in support for neurodivergent people accessing Stockport Connect Hub and took the initiative to create MindSpace, a dedicated neurodiversity support group. The group provides a safe space for neurodivergent people to connect with others who share similar experiences, alongside access to information, peer support and professional guidance.
Cathy has also developed accessible resources around autism, ADHD, neurodiversity and mental health, helping people feel better understood while increasing awareness across the wider service. Her work is a powerful example of what inclusion can look like in practice – listening to people whose needs aren't being fully met and taking positive action to change that.
All three finalists demonstrate that EDI isn't simply about policies and plans. It's about noticing barriers, listening to different experiences and finding practical ways to make sure people feel seen, heard and included.
And we're seeing that commitment reflected in services across Making Space.
At Peterborough Carers Wellbeing Service, the launch of Sahaara Sisters has created a culturally meaningful and welcoming space for South Asian women carers. By recognising the needs of an under-represented community and providing support in a way that is more accessible and culturally relevant, the initiative is another great example of our EDI commitments being brought to life.
Continuing our journey
Rachel Peacock, Chief Executive of Making Space, said:
Over the past year, our EDI journey has moved from setting out our ambitions to putting them into practice. Creating a Place for Everyone gave us a clear vision, but what matters most is the difference that commitment makes in people's everyday experiences.
I am incredibly proud of the progress we're making – from our growing network of EDI Ambassadors and the conversations taking place across our organisation, to inclusive leadership training, changes to our policies and fantastic examples of EDI being brought to life within our services.
There is always more to learn and more we can do. Inclusion isn't something we achieve through one strategy, policy or awareness week; it comes from listening, challenging ourselves and making thoughtful choices every day. National Inclusion Week is a valuable opportunity to celebrate how far we've come, while renewing our commitment to creating a Making Space where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive.
National Inclusion Week gives us an opportunity to celebrate progress, but our work doesn't stop when the week ends.
Through Creating a Place for Everyone, our EDI Ambassadors, Steering Group, Action Plan and the everyday actions taking place across our services, we'll continue listening, learning and working together to make inclusion part of everything we do.
You can follow the week online using #NationalInclusionWeek2026.