the-inclusive-celebrant-circle-full

holding space for wedding industry professionals

experiencing racism

The wedding industry is racist.

The wedding industry is failing people of colour. Like any other industry, we’re not immune to the practice and impact of racism, and it’s exhausting. 

Many of us working in this industry are small business owners, working alone and carrying the pain of being othered, doubting and gaslighting ourselves, or simply having nowhere safe to share what's happened and how we're feeling. We swallow our hurt and just keep going. Simultaneously, here in the UK and overseas in so many places, life is becoming increasingly unsafe for many of us, for our families and for our communities.

This is why I'm hosting monthly Holding Space sessions – time in a psychologically safe online environment for people to share their experiences, how they’re feeling and to feel real solidarity and support.

Your voice is important. It deserves to be heard.

This space is for those with lived experience of racism, including anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim and anti-migrant discrimination to share their experiences, feelings and needs.

We also warmly welcome allies, whatever their identities and experiences, who want to listen, act and disrupt the status quo.

These sessions will contain:

  • Clear, intentional ground rules to support healthy boundaries, mutual respect and psychological safety
  • Optional wellbeing activities such as guided meditations and reflective exercises
  • Signposting to further support and useful resources
  • A chance to build meaningful connections with people with shared values and experiences.
get your ticket

Count on me

In addition to running my celebrant business, I'm an Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Equality specialist, with experience in the mental health, charity, and education sectors.

I've had the privilege of providing expertise to the NHS, schools, colleges, councils, housing organisations, businesses, and charities both little and large.

I'm devoted to making the industries I work in better for everyone and am always growing my knowledge to give my best to this work.

I absolutely don’t position myself as an expert in any individual’s experience, and am of course, on my own continuing anti-racism and activism journey, but I will strive to give you a place to share, to listen and to feel at home, and I am committed to holding myself accountable and doing my best to making the space accessible and inclusive for all.

Contact Me

The practical bits: Where? When? How?

  • Online group sessions on Google Meet lasting 90 minutes. Please stay for the full length of the session wherever possible to respect everyone's voices.

 

  • Choose either a morning or evening session once per month – both have the same theme to give us a starting point for our conversations.

 

  • Please note, one session is solely for people who experience racism, and the other is for everyone - people who experience racism and allies who want to address this. If you're someone who is experiencing racism, choose the session that feels right for you.

How to sign up:

  1. Get your ticket for the session you want to attend using the links below. Each session is £5 or free to those who cannot pay, no questions asked.
  2. Share any accessibility requirements or information you'd like me to be aware of in the 'add a note to your order' section at checkout, or please feel welcome to reach out to me privately via email, telephone call or WhatsApp message.
  3. Links to join will be sent to you at least 24 hours before the session.

 

  • After each session you have the opportunity to provide feedback in ways that keep you anonymous or known, depending on your preference. This will help me to keep improving sessions and my approach going forward.

 

 

  • If you'd like to support Holding Space but don't want to attend yourself, you can purchase a Supporter ticket.

 

The next Holding Space sessions will take place on:

EVENING SESSION: Thursday 21st May, 8pm - 9:30pm

(for colleagues with lived experience of racism only)

and

MORNING SESSION: Friday 22nd May, 10am - 11:30am

(for everyone - allies welcome)

The theme for these sessions is: accountability and cancel culture

– how do we build each other up in the face of cancellation?


We will begin the session reflecting on recent incidents of racist harm and the direct and indirect impact on those who experience racism.


This is a space to share, listen and learn from each other.

I look forward to seeing and celebrating you there.

get your ticket

Get your ticket for the next Holding Space session or support someone else to attend

Get In touch

Got a question on how to make your business more inclusive? I'd love to hear from you. Get in touch for a free 30-minute consultation.

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MAKE INCLUSION YOUR LOVE LANGUAGE WEBINAR, CELEBRANT WINTERFEST 2023

 
Just a massive thank you from me and all of the celebrants at Celebrant WinterFEST. We really appreciate giving us your time and AMAZING knowledge.
 
I know so many will benefit from it, and it was such a privilege to have you there.
 
Much love, you are truly awesome!

Jennifer Claire Constant, Celebrant Business Growth Coach and Director of the Academy of Modern Celebrancy

www.jenniferclaire.com

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THE CELEBRANTS COLLECTIVE: MAKE INCLUSION YOUR LOVE LANGUAGE WEBINAR, APRIL 2024

 

I absolutely loved your passion for this very important topic and your compassion in the way that you shared your knowledge with others. I’m so pleased that you were able to deliver this for us.

Natasha Johnson, Co-Director of The Celebrants Collective

www.thecelebrantscollective.com

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INCLUSIVE COMMUNICATIONS:

LUNCH & LEARN WEBINAR

 

Aliya recently hosted a bespoke 'Lunch and Learn' exploring inclusive communication at my workplace that was engaging and insightful. She was an excellent speaker, and consistently checked in during the event to ensure it was accessible for evryone.

Throughout the planning process she was accomodating to our organisation's needs, and wove our current inclsuive pratices into the sessions content. She also provided ample opportunity for colleagies to get involved in shaping the session content.

We would happily host a session with Aliya again in the future, and would recommend her as a great addition to any Inclusion training event.

Kieran Burden, Inclusion & Wellbeing Manager, Bromford Flagship

www.bromford-flagship.co.uk