James Smart is Head of Content at SessionLab, a platform for designing and managing facilitation. He’s also a creative facilitator who has led workshops and designed eLearning experiences for places including the University of East Anglia and the National Centre for Writing in the UK. He especially enjoys working with young people, bringing creativity and deep listening into internal facilitation, and empowering others in their creative practice.

Lately, she’s dabbled in workshop design methodologies, including LEGO® Serious Play®, and currently works with care leavers from asylum seeking backgrounds.

#Facilitate2026 is an opportunity for facilitators to gather, share, learn and develop our skills and practice. We’re in a new venue in central Birmingham, as with more than 130 facilitators attending in 2025, we have outgrown the one we have used for the last 3 years.

Everything you need to know is explained below, including the conference details, ticketing information, how to submit a workshop session proposal and how to join the incredible team of volunteers that make this wonderful event possible.

About this event

Facilitation happens in meetings, workshops, conferences, and events, in addition it happens in youth work, community engagement and schools.

As facilitators we are always supporting others to grow and change. This conference is a space for your own development. A chance to meet others you can learn from, look at different tools and techniques to improve your skills, and to grow your business.

Everyone interested in facilitation is welcome, whether you are brand new to this work or have been doing it for years, whether you work in-house or externally and whether you facilitate some or all of the time.

Over the two days, you’ll find hands-on workshops, short talks, and loads of opportunities to meet and chat with other people. There’s always plenty of colourful stationery, to play with and the much-loved raffle. 

This year, we’re mixing things up with the introduction of an optional evening meal at the venue.  We will be running a fun night of activities or if you prefer you can just relax and get to know everyone a little better after a busy day of workshops.

We want to create a space to get curious, explore, question, challenge, and most importantly learn and develop.

Currently we are shaping up the agenda with all our workshop hosts and speakers

The theme this year is Designing Space, Time and Collaboration - Shaping Impact

Registrations, fees & discounts

We will have a number of ticket pricing options available:

Early bird tickets for 2 days and 1 day tickets, 2 day, 1 day, and Corporate tickets*

ALL tickets include lunch and tea/coffee/refreshments and snacks

*Corporate Tickets.:

We aim to keep this conference accessible to the widest range of facilitators possible and so we offer tickets to those working for SMEs, charities and the self employed at low rates. The corporate rate is designed for participants employed by larger organisations that are funding their attendance.

If you are an IAF member you can get 20% discount on any standard ticket PLUS an additional 15% on an early bird ticket. You have been emailed a promo code to be applied at checkout. If you haven’t received it email conference@iaf-ew.co.uk.

If you interested in joining the IAF, details can be found here iaf-members.org/site/join before you book (and then get your claim your discount!)

Financial Support: For those experiencing financial difficulty at this time we are offering a pay what you can approach. Please note there are a very limited number of pay what you can places, so please only use this option if you are unable to cover the full cost of the ticket price. If you are unsure please contact us at conference@iaf-ew.co.uk.

If you are able to pay full price for your ticket you can also make a donation at the time of purchase, to support those less able to do so.

Tickets must be purchased by Wednesday 8th April 2026 to confirm numbers and make final payment to the venue. 

If you cancel your registration before midnight on 16th March, we will provide you with a full refund, less fees incurred.

Cancellations after this time will not be refunded, but you may transfer your ticket to another named person by informing us of their details OR we may be able to defer your ticket to the 2027 conference. Please contact conference@iaf-ew.co.uk

Please note that we also reserve the right to cancel with no less than 8 days’ notice, without liability for any consequential or indirect loss. In this case, we will let you know by email and refund all tickets in full, less any associated fees.

Optional Friday evening event. This time we are swapping our usual arrangement of organising many restaurant bookings to a more unified experience,  we are bringing a more together feel by having an optional evening sit down meal at the venue as part of an evening event. (Ticket sold separately)

Optional Pre-booked accommodation We have secured a number of discounted rooms (through the venue) at a nearby hotel accommodation just 2 mins walk from the venue. These rooms are bookable directly when you purchase your ticket, but are only available up to 1st March 2026. Click Here to view the hotel , not to book it as we will do that for you). The rooms are studio apartments. 

Other hotels at a range of prices are available close to the venue, bookable directly at the usual online websites.

Alan is a group facilitator with 24 years of experience in designing participatory processes and events, mostly for the public and charitable sectors. Alan’s work is deeply rooted in the values and methods of the Technology of Participation approach to facilitation, and he also offers training in ToP group facilitation through ICA:uk. Since immigrating in 2005, Alan has lived in Manchester with his family, where he plays the ukulele and volunteers for various frisbee-based community projects.

You will leave with practical language, approaches, and confidence to navigate difficult moments in facilitation. The session will help you move from awareness to action, strengthening your ability to create truly racially equitable spaces in the rooms you hold and use your power by bringing balance to unequal situations.

About the Facilitators

Angel is a designer, facilitator and mentor specialising in collaborative methods including LEGO^® SERIOUS PLAY^® and design sprints.

She creates inclusive spaces where diverse voices are heard, helping teams make better decisions and work more cohesively, with clients ranging from start-ups to global organisations.

Alongside her client work, Angel writes and publishes independently. She founded Spoon and Mug, a publication exploring the food industry, and runs her own blog covering facilitation, design and entrepreneurship.

Paul Kelly is a facilitator, educator, and team coach whose career has been shaped by a deep belief in the power of experiential learning. Drawing inspiration from Plato’s insight: “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation”.

Paul integrates hands-on, minds-on approaches to unlock creativity, collaboration, and meaningful dialogue. He has spent years guiding teams and organisations towards deeper engagement, connection, and change.

What shifts when facilitators adopt a coaching stance? This highly participative workshop explores how coaching skills can increase ownership, deepen group thinking, and reduce unhelpful rescuing. Through live exercises and reflection, participants will experience practical approaches they can immediately apply in leadership, community, and organisational facilitation settings.

James Tomlinson is a leadership coach, facilitator and consultant with almost 25 years in education as a teacher and senior leader. He spent three years in India as a Vice Principal, broadening his perspective on leadership in context. For the past nine years he has worked across organisations on leadership development, change and the design of large-scale events. He creates practical spaces where people take ownership and turn insight into action.

https://padlet.com/IAFFacilitate2026/who-are-we-gzquzkpqc85hlnck

We’re especially excited that James and Polina from SessionLab will be hosting a workshop centred around their State of Facilitation report, a place where we can discuss where our profession is heading, what it means for the spaces we create, the groups we support, and the impact we aim to shape. 

Their support means we have opened applications for a number of subsidised community tickets, for anyone facing barriers to attending this year's conference.

Apply by 27th March via this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdkWhcjR_WI80Xx3qFrfahvsM3WHk4HoeLwZeyfSfzst57sQA/viewform

InkyShop UK will be joining us at the conference and contributing to the experience across the weekend.

Our conference principles:

Diversity – this principle seeks to ensure the conference reflects the differences between people in the IAF community including in terms of race, ethnicity, faith, gender and sexuality, disability (seen and unseen), neurodivergence, socio-economic status and age. Catering for varying dietary needs is also critical here.

Equity – this principle aims to ensure that those groups most historically marginalised are treated fairly and their personal needs considered and accommodated. This also includes spaces being trauma informed.

Inclusion – this principle is about creating an environment where everyone attending feels respected, valued and can contribute fully.

Ø  Making the text an easily readable size

Ø  Using plain English

Ø  Using short sentences (25 words or less)/paragraphs

Ø  Using everyday words that are jargon free

Ø  Adding captions on any video content, relevant imagery

Ø  Spell out acronyms in full

Ø  Consider the speed and pace of sessions and how you speak

Ø  Vary formats – consider both written and verbal formats

Ø  Explain what is on slides not just show them

Ø  Ensure presentation screens are visible and clear from all angles

Ø  Disability – suggest using the words disabled person or disabled people and not the disabled or the handicapped, wheelchair-bound, crippled

Why? This is in line with the social model of disability. This was developed by disabled people and recognises that it is barriers in society, of environment, attitude and organisation, that disable people and lead to prejudice and discrimination, rather than the impairment or condition itself.

Ø  Neurodivergence – suggest using the words Person who is Neurodivergent, Neuroatypical

Why? This term recognizes that brains do not all function in the same way. It includes autistic people, people with ADHD, and people with dyslexia. It avoids negative stereotypes and can be used to highlight the different strengths neurodiversity offers.

Ø  Gender - Trans, transgender, transgender people rather than transgendered or transexual

Ø  Pronouns – suggest asking a persons preferred pronoun rather than assuming this. This should be on the name tags but if unsure, ask.

Ø  Race – Black or Black person rather than black. People of Colour and Person of Colour (POC) rather than BAME, BME, mixed race and coloured

Why? Black should be capitalized. Previously, other ethnic identities have been recognized with capital letters, e.g. Indigenous, Asian American, but ‘Black’ has not been, even though it is an identity in its own right

- Facilitating Strategy (one day course in person or online) 

- Facilitation Fundamentals (one day, in person) 

- Facilitation Masterclass (one day, in person) 

- Virtual Facilitation Skills (half day, online) 

- Facilitation 101 Autumn Cohort  Training and Practice group (online)

- Facilitating Strategy (one day course in person or online) 

- Facilitation Fundamentals (one day, in person) 

- Facilitation Masterclass (one day, in person) 

- Virtual Facilitation Skills (half day, online) 

- Facilitation 101 Autumn Cohort  Training and Practice group (online)

 Community charter for Facilitate 2026 - Our collective commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

As we come together for the IAF England and Wales conference 2026, we are committed to making the space an accessible and welcoming one for everyone in the community and implementing principles of diversity, equity and inclusion.

During the conference, we encourage each other to: 

Be present - valuing the space set up and practicing active listening when others are speaking. Giving space if we notice that we are talking more than others.

Be inclusive of everyone regardless of, but not limited to gender, age, race, (dis)ability, sexuality, class, ethnicity, education, religion. Being mindful of our own privileges and being each other’s ally. 

Disagree respectfully - being curious and open when different perspectives are shared. 

Speak from our own experiences – being mindful not to speak on behalf of a whole group or make assumptions about the experience of others.

Be compassionate towards ourselves and others if we are invited to give or receive feedback or advice.

Remember no one knows everything, together we know a lot - the conference is a space of being alongside each other to learn.

Have fun - balancing reflection and having fun together 

If something is not right for you during the conference, please reach out to one of the conference team or someone you know and trust for support. The team will aim to support you but we acknowledge we are all learning together.

Together we will create brave space

Because there is no such thing as a “safe space”

We exist in the real world

We all carry scars and we have all caused wounds.

In this space

We seek to turn down the volume of the outside world.

We amplify voices that fight to be heard elsewhere,

We call each other to more truth and love

We have the right to start somewhere and continue to grow.

We have the responsibility to examine what we think we know.

We will not be perfect.

It will not always be what we wish it to be

But

It will be our brave space together,

And We will work on it side by side.

(by Micky Scottbey Jones-
inspired by a poem by Beth Strano)

You pick sessions on the day

Ticket boxes open each morning for the first two sessions. 

More tickets are released at lunchtime for the afternoon sessions. Each ticket has a short feedback section for the session host. These are returned back at the ticketing stations. 

Room sizes Two rooms hold around 25 people. Other rooms hold around 40 to 50.

The ticket system keeps group sizes balanced and helps hosts know how many people to expect.

Running late? Ask a fellow attendee to grab a ticket for you. Find contact details in the bio section.

You pick sessions on the day

Ticket boxes open each morning for the first two sessions. 

More tickets are released at lunchtime for the afternoon sessions. Each ticket has a short feedback section for the session host. These are returned back at the ticketing stations. 

Room sizes Two rooms hold around 25 people. Other rooms hold around 40 to 50.

The ticket system keeps group sizes balanced and helps hosts know how many people to expect.

Running late? Ask a fellow attendee to grab a ticket for you. Find contact details in the bio section.

You'll get free access to the deck and will be able to add your own branding to make them stand out with clients.

This is what we came up with. It's not final. It's not a 'to do list" because as a volunteer organisation we can only do what our people have time and energy for.

Rather it is a map. If in our meet ups, podcast, comms, conferences and other activities, we are doing one or more of these things, and you are involved or even present - you are contributing to that global vision or "Promoting the Power of Facilitation.

If you think you would like to volunteer to get involved or start something new under one of these headings - come and talk to the chair or other leadersihp team member.

Contact AbBrightman.business@gmail.com

To clam your prize

a lightweight case for all your stick it and a no 1 markers. Worth £130 pounds !

Marie Loney

Wellbeing Executive Coach

Pronouns She/her

Founder & CEO

Glow Consultancy London

E: marie@glowconsultancy.london

M: +44 (0) 79393 62859

W: https://glowconsultancy.london/

With the British Beauty Council Wellbing Panel, we’re exploring hair and nail salons as everyday wellbeing touchpoints, especially for people who may not have or want to access traditional mental health services. 

·       Impact Real People in Real Contexts: Move beyond traditional clinical settings to support humans where they already feel comfortable in the trusted, everyday environment of the salon chair.

·       Bridge the Gap in Mental Health: Help reach diverse communities that may not typically access or trust conventional services.

·       Apply Your Expertise to Social Innovation: Use your skills in group dynamics, reflective practice, and inclusive facilitation to turn high street businesses into vital community wellbeing hubs.

·       Hold Psychologically Safe Spaces: Play a critical role in balancing voices and creating spaces where personal, open conversations can lead to early support and meaningful connection.

·       Support the Supporters: Bring your facilitation and reflective practice experience to support salon teams, therapists, and peers process their work and stay emotionally resourced.

·       Shape an Evolving Initiative: Join a pilot-phase project where your curiosity and professional experience support a framework.

·       Strengthen Community Resilience: Facilitate the transition from "revolving door" medical visits to sustainable, relational support through local mentally, healthy high streets.

Right now we’re gathering expressions of interest for an evolving initiative, with an eye on a pilot phase towards a September launch.

If you think this might be something you woudl be interested in helping with - the Pilot is unfunded, but thet end goal is a funded programme supported by major beauty industry sponsors