The Community of Cultures project and the SMC are delighted to invite a special guest – Laura Henry-Allain MBE – to discuss talking to children about race.

Why is this an important topic to address? Our children are the future. We want to raise them to understand anti racism and to actively be anti-racist. It is not always easy to know where to start with these conversations.

We welcome everyone and all communities to this event. Everyone can learn something together about raising an anti-racist generation. No question is too big, small, silly or insignificant!

This is a Q&A workshop. We will be asking for your questions for Laura prior to the event. Please complete our very short Google form, or email us at:

communityofcultures@sheffieldmaternitycooperative.co.uk

Google form: https://forms.gle/cwRGHuVd1DrwVDqa9

About Laura:

Laura Henry-Allain MBE is an award-winning international writer, speaker and consultant.

She is the creator of the well-loved CBeebies characters JoJo and Gran Gran as well as the series’ associate producer. She is also executive producer on a few shows that are currently in development.

She is the vice-president of the British Association for Early Childhood Education, and is an educational consultant for several well-known brands as well as children’s media, television and publishing.

Laura’s new children’s book, My Skin, Your Skin, illustrated by Onyinye Iwu, explores race and anti-racism, and empowers children to be the best versions of themselves. It will be published in October 2021.

After leaving school at 16 with hardly any qualifications, Laura returned to education aged 19 and trained as an Early Years teacher. She is passionate about the voice of the child, their families, equality, inclusion and diversity. Her lived experience in this area is her autistic eldest son. She mentors and supports a number of young people. Nine years ago, Laura had 10 units of blood, which saved her life and was one of the catalysts for her positive and can-do attitude to life.