22nd January marked a truly inspiring milestone as we hosted the first Practitioners Anti‑Racist Practice Conference in the Eastern Region. With more than 160 colleagues in the room, the sense of shared purpose and commitment to meaningful change was unmistakable.
We were honoured to hear from Maria Takaendisa, whose keynote was powerful, insightful, and deeply grounding. Her reflections set the tone for a day centred on honesty, learning, and collective responsibility.
We were also joined by BAFTA‑nominated King Simpson, who shared his remarkable short film Home and offered a thoughtful Q&A exploring themes such as broken attachment and lived experience. His openness and perspective added a profound layer to the conversations that followed.
The afternoon workshops, led by leaders from across our region, focused on how we can bring the regional anti‑racist pledge to life in practice. These sessions were rich with ideas, challenge, and practical steps — exactly what’s needed to keep this work moving forward.
What stood out most was the pride and determination in the room. The commitment to sustaining momentum and embedding anti‑racist practice across our services was clear, and it was energising to be part of it.
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed, attended, and helped shape such a powerful and purposeful day. The work continues — and so does our collective commitment to doing better.
Eastern Region Anti-Racist Practice Resources:
