A Place at the Table evolves for February event

 Inclusive Minds, a collective for people interested in children’s books and diversity, is launching a new format for its A Place at the Table event, at which publishers and other parties explore ways of affecting change, share good practice and commit to practical action on inclusion and diversity.

The next full-day event, on 6th February 2018, will be hosted by Penguin Random House at 80 The Strand, and delivered in partnership with the Publishers Association (PA). Held every 18 months, the previous two events were round-table discussions, but the forthcoming gathering will introduce various new elements.

One of these is a new forum-style workshop which will offer delegates the chance to talk with one of Inclusive Minds’Young Ambassadors for Inclusion (young people and/or parents with first-hand knowledge of particular aspects of diversity) and subject specialists in small groups to explore ways of ensuring authentic inclusion. Beth Cox, freelance editor, inclusion consultant and co-founder of Inclusive Minds, said the forum would “help attendees to gain deeper understanding about particular facets of diversity by talking to someone with direct experience”.

Another new element will be a section where delegates can share industry news or case studies on the topic of inclusion. Co-founder Alex Strick, a freelance consultant and project manager, said the event had evolved “to ensure that we continue to meet the needs of the industry and help publishers to move forward with the vital work they are doing”.

Emma House, deputy chief executive of the PA, said the organisation was “delighted” to partner on the event for a third time following the launch of its Inclusivity Action Plan. She added: “A Place at the Table is a terrific forum that offers practical advice, workshops and a forum for everyone involved in children’s publishing, and keeps the importance of inclusivity alive in people’s minds.”

A Place at the Table is now open for bookings here.