Author: Amy Edwards

In this event, delivered by staff from the University Proctor’s office, you will learn how to define and recognise situations which constitute harassment, hate incidents and hate crime.

Benefits of attending: This session will enable you to understand the impact of harassment and hate on the individual concerned, and the wider community. You will also leave feeling more confident and with tools to know how to be an effective bystander when you witness these incidents.

Aimed at students but open to all.

It isn’t often we get the same speaker back the following year but with G we made an exception! Following on from their fantastic session delivered by The Queer Box in 2022, we have G back for a more in-depth look at gender identity, gender expression, biological essentialism and the gender-critical movement.

This session is designed to give participants a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of gender, gender diversity and trans awareness.

The session will include:

• What we mean by gender identity, gender expression and the

• words ‘cis’ and ‘trans’

• The differences between sex assigned at birth and biological sex

• Understanding pronouns

• Use of appropriate language

• The transitioning experience

• Microaggressions

• Biological essentialism and the gender-critical movement

• Trans allyship

• Group discussion of potentially challenging scenarios

This content will be delivered using a combination of taught presentation, breakout workshop sessions and group discussion.

G Sabini-Roberts (they/them) is nonbinary, queer and neurodivergent and has been an LGBTQ+ activist, organiser, facilitator, trainer & speaker since 1996. Having also spent several years teaching in HE settings, developing community outreach programmes and training and mentoring in the entrepreneurial sector, they bring a diverse professional skill set to the table alongside their grass-roots queer heritage.

In 2020 they co-founded The Queer Box and have since worked with many organisations, including the NHS, Hollyoaks, and HS2 as well as numerous small business owners, coaches and consultants

Hannah Jepson is the founder of Engaging for Success, an organisation providing LGBTQ+ Inclusion training, Diversity and inclusion expertise and consultancy, Inclusive competency framework design, Organisational culture change, LGBTQ+ aligned mentoring and more.

Hannah will share her own inspiring story of how she began working in LGBTQ+ Advocacy.

In this session, Hannah will also explain the legacy of section 28 and discuss how the education landscape changed since the repeal of Section 28 and the challenges young people and educators still face, before looking to the future – what’s set to change in the coming years for the LGBTQ+ community. The session will be interactive with time for Q&A.

In this interactive session, you will understand how you can help; how you can be an intentional ally, in your role, to the LGBTQ+ community, and how can you be safely authentic if you are LGBTQ+.

Relevant to all staff, students and visitors.

We are delighted to welcome Allegra Foxile, author of the book Hormone Tension Release (HTR) to the Festival 2023. Allegra’s book offers a powerful solution to hormonal tension.

Having previously struggled significantly with debilitating hormonal symptoms, Allegra has delved deep and devised a powerful natural system to help you to release stress, pain and tension from your body. HTR offers freedom and relief from premenstrual tension, perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause symptoms.

In this session, Allegra will discuss the menopause symptoms and most importantly how to minimise these through self-regulation. This session will involve practical exercises so wear comfy clothes that you can stretch in.

The session is therefore open to everyone who is already or will directly be affected by the menopause.

The menopausal transition is a time of great changes in women and a considerable number will experience so-called menopause symptoms, such as night sweats, hot flushes, and brain fog to name a few. It is lesser known that the physiological changes can also lead to increased health risks, such as cardiometabolic diseases and osteoporosis. Whilst a time of great challenges, this is also a time of great opportunity to make healthy lifestyle changes that will support women (and their families and workplace) during this time and beyond.

Dr Tanja Harrison RNutr is a registered nutritionist and lecturer in the Department of Clinical Sciences and Nutrition with a special interest in nutrition during the menopausal transition.

The talk will focus on foods, nutrients and nutritional strategies that can help mitigate symptoms and health risks.

Whilst women have the physical experience of menopause, ultimately, all family members and the wider environment are also part of this transition and it is therefore helpful for them to also gain an understanding of lifestyle changes, including nutrition, that are beneficial. And chances are that we can all eat more healthily anyway!

The session is therefore open to everyone who is already or will directly or indirectly be affected by the menopause.

This short, informative session will provide an introduction to autism and key areas of difference for autistic people. Delivered by one of the National Autistic Society’s experienced autism training consultants, this event will provide you with added insight into the experiences of autistic people, specifically in the workplace and provide some top tips for adapting your communication and practice.

A combination of presentation, videos and questions to support your learning, this event will consist of a 45-minute presentation followed by a 15-minute Q&A.

This event will give you added insight into the experiences of autistic people, specifically in the workplace and provide some top tips for adapting your communication and practice.

This event really is for everyone. Anyone could work with a colleague with autism now, even if you are not aware of the fact, or you could in future.

(Please note, this session is online and, as the link is being set up by the NAS trainer, it will be made available to those booked on closer to the date of the event)

A writer and new mother reimagines birth and aftercare.

Jessica Hatcher-Moore is an award-winning journalist and the author of After Birth: How to Recover Body and Mind, a book that aims to empower new mothers with knowledge and understanding.

Jessica’s writing sheds light on under-reported issues and uses the power of storytelling to bring people together. She was the Guardian correspondent in Nairobi before moving to live with her family in the hills of North Wales.

In conversation with the University’s Professor Chantal Davies, Jessica will share more information on her book, a straight-talking new mums’ guide to physical and mental health after having a baby. The book provides balanced advice with no agenda that informs, entertains and empowers women to reclaim their post birth selves. “Information is power and information is exactly what After Birth delivers”, said Milli Hill, author of The Positive Birth Book.

A fantastic opportunity to attend one of the Festival’s much-loved In Conversation events and hear more from a fantastic author on an important topic.

As with all events, this is open to all; however this event may be of most interest to midwifery and other Faculty of Health, Medicine and Society students and to parents – new, existing and prospective.

A writer and new mother reimagines birth and aftercare.

Jessica Hatcher-Moore is an award-winning journalist and the author of After Birth: How to Recover Body and Mind, a book that aims to empower new mothers with knowledge and understanding.

Jessica’s writing sheds light on under-reported issues and uses the power of storytelling to bring people together. She was the Guardian correspondent in Nairobi before moving to live with her family in the hills of North Wales.

In conversation with the University’s Professor Chantal Davies, Jessica will share more information on her book, a straight-talking new mums’ guide to physical and mental health after having a baby. The book provides balanced advice with no agenda that informs, entertains and empowers women to reclaim their post birth selves. “Information is power and information is exactly what After Birth delivers”, said Milli Hill, author of The Positive Birth Book.

A fantastic opportunity to attend one of the Festival’s much-loved In Conversation events and hear more from a fantastic author on an important topic.

As with all events, this is open to all; however this event may be of most interest to midwifery and other Faculty of Health, Medicine and Society students and to parents – new, existing and prospective.

Cerrie Burnell is an author, actor and activist, best known for work on CBeebies. A role which has earned her critical recognition and a devoted fan base. During her time on CBeebies she has broken down barriers, challenged stereotypes and overcome discrimination.

Cerrie became one of the most visible disabled presenters on kids T.V. Alongside this Cerrie has worked closely with a number of charitable organisations linked to childhood and diversity, which she is passionate about.

Cerrie trained at Manchester Metropolitan school of acting. Her credits prior to Cbeebies include; Eastenders, The Bill, Comedy Lab, Holby City and many plays including Winged: A Fairytale, which she wrote and starred in.

Cerrie Burnell is the author of thirteen children’s books including Snowflakes, which she adapted for the stage with Oxford Playhouse in 2016. Also the Harper series, which was a World Book Day title in 2016.

As well as creating her one woman show the Magical Playroom which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2013. Her latest book Wilder Than Midnight was Indie Book of the Month for May 2022.

Cerrie has been listed by The Guardian as one of the top ten children’s presenters of all time. She is a patron of Polka Theatre and has been an author in residence at Great Ormand Street. In 2017 Cerrie was awarded an honorary degree for services to Media from The Open University. She recently came third on the 2021 Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 List.

Since leaving CBeebies, Cerrie has appeared in the BBC continuing drama Doctors and made the eye opening documentary Silenced for the BBC . And continues to dazzle as children’s author. Her none-fiction book I Am Not A Label published in July and was an Amazon US twenty best children’s nonfiction book of 2020.

Cerrie was the BBC’s Ambassador for Disability from 2021 to 2022.

Cerrie loves the city and the sea, and can be found somewhere in between dreaming up new stories, or having adventures with her daughter.

Benefits of attending: An opportunity to join in this in-conversation style event with a truly fascinating and inspirational person and hear more about her life and work.

Open to staff, students and visitors, this will be a popular event so book soon!

Delivered by Duncan Campbell, Lead for Clinical Care-EmpowerED and Fiona Jenkins, Specialist Mental Health Project Manager, Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, this session will cover the following:

• Overview of different types of eating disorder

• Ways to recognise eating disorder in people you know.

• Opportunities to safely support people affected by eating disorders.

• Sources of further help, information and advice

• The Empowered Community Champions model & how you can get involved.

Anyone as anyone could have experiences of colleagues, family members or friends with eating disorders, so this session will be beneficial to all.