{"id":1223,"date":"2026-09-08T17:22:03","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T17:22:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/?p=1223"},"modified":"2026-09-08T17:22:04","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T17:22:04","slug":"thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\/","title":{"rendered":"Thirty Years On: If Equality Training Didn&#8217;t Work, Why Has So Much Changed?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>March 2027 marks a significant milestone for Equality and Diversity UK (EDUK).<\/strong> We will celebrate 30 years of working alongside organisations, leaders, and individuals to create fairer, more inclusive workplaces and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thirty years is a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is long enough to see society change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Long enough to see laws change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Long enough to see attitudes shift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Long enough to witness people who once held discriminatory views become allies, advocates, and leaders for inclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet, after almost three decades, I am still asked the same question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;If equality, diversity and inclusion training works, why do racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia and other forms of discrimination still exist?&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is a fair question. But I believe it starts from a false premise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A False Choice:<\/strong> The argument often goes like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Discrimination still exists, therefore equality training doesn&#8217;t work.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At first glance it sounds logical. It isn&#8217;t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By that reasoning we would stop teaching infection prevention because people still catch infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We would stop safeguarding training because abuse still occurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We would stop educating police officers because crime has not disappeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We would stop teaching road safety because collisions still happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Education has never been judged by whether it completely eliminates a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Education is judged by whether it changes knowledge, attitudes, behaviour, and culture over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is exactly what good equality education does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What I Have Seen Over 30 Years<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I established Inclusive Learning Development Services in March 1997, (Name changed to Equality and Diversity UK in 2006) the conversations in training rooms were hugely different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many delegates openly expressed racist, sexist, homophobic and discriminatory opinions. Some had never been challenged. Others had never met people from different backgrounds or heard lived experiences that differed from their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking back, if I were to describe the audiences we worked with, they broadly fell into four groups:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Supporters<\/strong> \u2013 people already committed to equality and inclusion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Passengers<\/strong> \u2013 people willing to learn but largely disengaged.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Saboteurs<\/strong> \u2013 people actively resistant to change.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Prisoners<\/strong> \u2013 people attending because they had been told to, often believing equality training had nothing to offer them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thirty years ago, the majority of delegates were what I would describe as <em>prisoners<\/em>. Many arrived expecting to be lectured. Some openly challenged the need for equality legislation. Others questioned whether discrimination even existed. Today, the picture is almost unrecognisable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most delegates arrive wanting to learn. They ask thoughtful questions. They are curious about unconscious bias, inclusive language, accessibility, psychological safety, and allyship. They want practical tools to become better colleagues, leaders, and professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That transformation did not happen by accident. It happened because education, lived experience, legislation, courageous conversations, and societal change worked together over many years.<strong><br><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Have We Finished? Absolutely Not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It would be dishonest to claim that discrimination has disappeared. It hasn&#8217;t. Racial inequalities remain evident in areas such as healthcare and maternity outcomes. Disabled people continue to face barriers in employment and everyday life. Women still encounter unequal opportunities and harassment. LGBTQ+ communities continue to experience discrimination and hostility. These realities matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But recognising that inequality still exists is not evidence that equality education has failed. It is evidence that our work is not yet finished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Every Conversation Matters<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Equality and Diversity UK, we have never believed that a single training course changes the world. People change the world. Training helps people begin or continue that journey. Our delegates choose to spend time reflecting on their attitudes, behaviours, and decision-making. Organisations commission us because they recognise that inclusion is essential for better services, stronger teams, and healthier workplaces. That willingness to learn deserves recognition. It is easy to criticise from the sidelines. It takes courage to enter a learning space and ask difficult questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Evidence We See Every Week<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the greatest privileges of my career has been reading the feedback from thousands of delegates. Time after time they tell us they are leaving with greater understanding, increased confidence, and practical ideas they can apply immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some tell us they have recognised biases they had never noticed before. Others describe feeling empowered to challenge discrimination respectfully. Many say they now understand experiences that were previously invisible to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps the most rewarding comments are from those who admit they were sceptical before attending but left with a completely different perspective. Those moments matter. Because every changed conversation has the potential to influence a family, a workplace, a patient, a colleague, a customer, or an entire team. Change spreads.<strong><br><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Inclusion Happens Between Courses<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Real inclusion does not happen during training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Training provides the spark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inclusion happens afterwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It happens when a manager chooses to recruit more fairly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When a colleague speaks up after hearing a discriminatory joke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When someone asks, &#8220;How can I make this meeting more accessible?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When a healthcare professional listens differently to a patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When a teacher changes how they support a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When someone who once remained silent decides to become an ally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is where culture changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Our Framework for Everyday Inclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over three decades, I have learned that equality is not an event. It is a daily practice. That is why I encourage people to think about inclusion through the <strong>COURAGE Framework<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>C<\/strong>uriosity \u2013 replacing assumptions with genuine questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>O<\/strong>penness \u2013 listening to experiences different from our own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>U<\/strong>nderstanding \u2013 learning the history, context and barriers others face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>R<\/strong>espect \u2013 treating everyone with dignity, even when perspectives differ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A<\/strong>ction \u2013 turning learning into behaviour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>G<\/strong>rowth \u2013 recognising that none of us has finished learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>E<\/strong>veryday Practice \u2013 making inclusion part of how we live, lead, work and socialise every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inclusion is not something we do once a year. It is something we practise every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Looking Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Equality and Diversity UK approaches its thirtieth anniversary, I feel hopeful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not because discrimination has disappeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But because I have seen what education can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I have watched people change. I have watched organisations transform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I have seen individuals become champions for fairness who never imagined they would be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There will always be those who say, &#8220;It isn&#8217;t working.&#8221; I prefer to ask a different question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Where would we be if nobody had spent the last thirty years trying?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Without those conversations, those workshops, those challenges, and those moments of reflection, I have little doubt that our workplaces and communities would be less inclusive than they are today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A Final Thought<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are already working in equality, diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, or human rights, thank you. <strong>Your work matters.<\/strong> If you have ever thought about becoming an equality consultant, facilitator, or educator, I encourage you to do it. The sector does not need fewer voices. It needs more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It needs people from different communities, different professions and different lived experiences who are prepared to create spaces where people can learn, question, reflect and grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Equality and Diversity UK, we have spent almost 30 years believing that people can change. Thousands of delegates have shown us that they can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The journey towards equality is not a sprint and it is not a destination. It is a lifelong commitment to learning, listening, and acting with courage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we celebrate 30 years in March 2027, our message remains the same as it was in 1997:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Never stop learning. Never stop listening. Never stop believing that people can change. Because every conversation has the power to change someone&#8217;s world.<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"682\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-1-682x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1224\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.6666666666666666;width:602px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-1-682x1024.png 682w, https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-1-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-1-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-1.jpg 903w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>March 2027 marks a significant milestone for Equality and Diversity UK (EDUK). We will celebrate 30 years of working alongside organisations, leaders, and individuals to create fairer, more inclusive workplaces and communities. Thirty years is a long time. It is long enough to see society change. Long enough to see laws change. Long enough to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,1,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-workplace","category-eduk","category-fostering-inclusivity-insights-and-tips"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Thirty Years On: If Equality Training Didn&#039;t Work, Why Has So Much Changed? - Equality and Diversity UK Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Thirty Years On: If Equality Training Didn&#039;t Work, Why Has So Much Changed? - Equality and Diversity UK Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"March 2027 marks a significant milestone for Equality and Diversity UK (EDUK). We will celebrate 30 years of working alongside organisations, leaders, and individuals to create fairer, more inclusive workplaces and communities. Thirty years is a long time. It is long enough to see society change. Long enough to see laws change. Long enough to [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Equality and Diversity UK Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-09-08T17:22:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-08T17:22:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"903\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1355\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Alyson Malach\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Alyson Malach\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/08\\\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/08\\\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Alyson Malach\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/1b4d93e7bb7b9d019c28bbaad71703b1\"},\"headline\":\"Thirty Years On: If Equality Training Didn&#8217;t Work, Why Has So Much Changed?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-08T17:22:03+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-08T17:22:04+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/08\\\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1231,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/08\\\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/image-1-682x1024.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"DEI in the Workplace\",\"EDUK\",\"Fostering Inclusivity\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/08\\\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/08\\\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/08\\\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\\\/\",\"name\":\"Thirty Years On: If Equality Training Didn't Work, Why Has So Much Changed? - Equality and Diversity UK Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/08\\\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/08\\\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/image-1-682x1024.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-08T17:22:03+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-08T17:22:04+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/08\\\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/08\\\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/08\\\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/image-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/image-1.jpg\",\"width\":903,\"height\":1355},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/08\\\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Thirty Years On: If Equality Training Didn&#8217;t Work, Why Has So Much Changed?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/\",\"name\":\"Equality and Diversity UK Blog\",\"description\":\"Blog by Equality and Diversity UK\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Equality and Diversity UK Blog\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/10\\\/cropped-eduk-logo-300.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/10\\\/cropped-eduk-logo-300.png\",\"width\":300,\"height\":300,\"caption\":\"Equality and Diversity UK Blog\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/1b4d93e7bb7b9d019c28bbaad71703b1\",\"name\":\"Alyson Malach\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/878648ac954b51119effc1b58c8e283abd18c3408cfdf7a4c829129cda1a1503?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/878648ac954b51119effc1b58c8e283abd18c3408cfdf7a4c829129cda1a1503?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/878648ac954b51119effc1b58c8e283abd18c3408cfdf7a4c829129cda1a1503?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Alyson Malach\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\\\/index.php\\\/author\\\/jojoblog\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Thirty Years On: If Equality Training Didn't Work, Why Has So Much Changed? - Equality and Diversity UK Blog","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Thirty Years On: If Equality Training Didn't Work, Why Has So Much Changed? - Equality and Diversity UK Blog","og_description":"March 2027 marks a significant milestone for Equality and Diversity UK (EDUK). We will celebrate 30 years of working alongside organisations, leaders, and individuals to create fairer, more inclusive workplaces and communities. Thirty years is a long time. It is long enough to see society change. Long enough to see laws change. Long enough to [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\/","og_site_name":"Equality and Diversity UK Blog","article_published_time":"2026-09-08T17:22:03+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-09-08T17:22:04+00:00","og_image":[{"width":903,"height":1355,"url":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Alyson Malach","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Alyson Malach","Estimated reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\/"},"author":{"name":"Alyson Malach","@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/1b4d93e7bb7b9d019c28bbaad71703b1"},"headline":"Thirty Years On: If Equality Training Didn&#8217;t Work, Why Has So Much Changed?","datePublished":"2026-09-08T17:22:03+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-08T17:22:04+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\/"},"wordCount":1231,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-1-682x1024.png","articleSection":["DEI in the Workplace","EDUK","Fostering Inclusivity"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\/","url":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\/","name":"Thirty Years On: If Equality Training Didn't Work, Why Has So Much Changed? - Equality and Diversity UK Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-1-682x1024.png","datePublished":"2026-09-08T17:22:03+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-08T17:22:04+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-1.jpg","width":903,"height":1355},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/09\/08\/thirty-years-on-if-equality-training-didnt-work-why-has-so-much-changed\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Thirty Years On: If Equality Training Didn&#8217;t Work, Why Has So Much Changed?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/","name":"Equality and Diversity UK Blog","description":"Blog by Equality and Diversity UK","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/#organization","name":"Equality and Diversity UK Blog","url":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/cropped-eduk-logo-300.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/cropped-eduk-logo-300.png","width":300,"height":300,"caption":"Equality and Diversity UK Blog"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/1b4d93e7bb7b9d019c28bbaad71703b1","name":"Alyson Malach","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/878648ac954b51119effc1b58c8e283abd18c3408cfdf7a4c829129cda1a1503?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/878648ac954b51119effc1b58c8e283abd18c3408cfdf7a4c829129cda1a1503?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/878648ac954b51119effc1b58c8e283abd18c3408cfdf7a4c829129cda1a1503?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Alyson Malach"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk"],"url":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/author\/jojoblog\/"}]}},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Alyson Malach","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/author\/jojoblog\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"March 2027 marks a significant milestone for Equality and Diversity UK (EDUK). We will celebrate 30 years of working alongside organisations, leaders, and individuals to create fairer, more inclusive workplaces and communities. Thirty years is a long time. It is long enough to see society change. Long enough to see laws change. Long enough to&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1223"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1223\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1225,"href":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1223\/revisions\/1225"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.equalityanddiversity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}