Our focus groups organise regular events to raise awareness of diversity and inclusion issues and to help create an inclusive environment where all identities and cultures are acknowledged and celebrated.

South Asian Heritage Month

South Asian Heritage Month runs from 18 July – 17 August, celebrating the rich and diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of people with South Asian heritage. Stewarts has celebrated the multifaceted tapestry of South Asia through a number of events in July and August in the London and Leeds offices.

The aim of the events, organised by the Ethnicity, Religion and Culture Focus Group, was to highlight the importance of understanding and appreciating the cultural, linguistic, religious, and artistic diversity within the South Asian community, whilst celebrating their present impact on the rest of the world.

Hosting Dr Ateh Jewel for International Women’s Day

On 8 March 2023, Stewarts’ Diversity Champions and Inclusion Committee had the pleasure of welcoming Dr Ateh Jewel to Stewarts’ London office to mark International Women’s Day.

2023’s International Women’s Day campaign theme was #EmbraceEquity. The campaign is to prompt important conversations around why ‘equal opportunities’ may not go far enough. Because individuals start at different places as determined by their gender, social background, ethnicity and other factors, true inclusion and belonging requires equitable action.

Partnering with Future Frontiers for coaching programme

In January and February 2023, volunteers from the firm provided dedicated coaching to a group of students currently in year 10.

After completing several hours of training, the coaches and pupils met every week for four weeks. During the sessions, they worked through a series of exercises and activities to support the young people, identify their best skills and what their career might be, and explore the different routes available to achieve that career once leaving school.

Commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day with Holocaust Educational Trust and survivor Eve Kugler BEM

To mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2023, Stewarts’ Inclusion Committee had the privilege of hosting a webinar in conjunction with the Holocaust Educational Trust and Holocaust survivor Eve Kugler BEM. Varsha Chandrasegaran summarises the event here.

Held on 27th January each year, Holocaust Memorial Day marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp, in 1945. Holocaust Memorial Day encourages us all to bear witness to those who endured genocide, and honour the survivors.

Black History Month – a discussion with Ije McDougall about racial inequality and allyship

In 2022, Stewarts ran a series of events to shine a spotlight on black British artists who have influenced the UK’s music culture, as well as black-owned businesses and their products.

We welcomed Ije McDougall to our London office for a discussion on racial inequality and the importance of allyship. Ije’s presentation focused on the power of ideas and the impact that they can have based on her experiences founding The Kairos Initiative, a charity focussed on supporting victims of insurgency in Nigeria, and her role at the UK Ministry of Justice.