School of Coding at the TUC Black Workers Conference 2025
At the School of Coding, we do more than just educate technology; we also inspire leadership, promote equality, and empower changemakers. Toks, our SEN Teacher and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, made a fantastic début at the TUC Black Workers Conference 2025, representing our commitment to diversity and inclusion with great pride.
As a first-time delegate and speaker, Toks delivered strong speeches on two important motions: Protecting Workers’ Linguistic Rights and Refugees Seeking Citizenship. His achievements exemplified the School of Coding’s mission to advance opportunities not only in education but across society.
What is the TUC Black Workers Conference?
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is the UK trade union organisation that advocates for workers’ rights, equality, and social justice. Every year, the TUC Black Workers Conference brings together Black, Asian, and minority ethnic trade unionists to address employment issues and explore strategies for combating systemic discrimination and racism.
- The symposium addresses injustices experienced by Black workers.
- Creating networks of assistance across industries.
- Passing motions that define the TUC’s overall campaigning activities
- Celebrating accomplishments and acknowledging future leaders.
This year’s meeting was especially important since it addressed continued challenges following the epidemic, such as rising employment inequities and renewed requests for inclusive policies in all sectors.
School of Coding: A Commitment Beyond Education
At School of Coding, we are proud to be the largest coding instructor in the UK, but our purpose goes far beyond the classroom. We are firmly devoted to providing opportunities for under-represented groups in technology, promoting diversity, and advocating for the rights of all workers, particularly Black and minority ethnic employees.
Toks’s involvement and statements at the TUC Black Workers Conference 2025 demonstrate this devotion. His presence reinforced our idea that empowerment via education must be accompanied by activism for societal change.
Toks’s Journey: A First-Time Delegate, A First-Time Speaker
It can be daunting task to attend a national conference for the first time as a delegate or speaker. Toks, on the other hand, rose to the challenge with tenacity, enthusiasm, and a clear sense of purpose.
Toks had the opportunity to speak on two crucial motions:
1. Ensuring Workers' Linguistic Rights
In an increasingly globalised workforce, language variety must be valued and safeguarded. Toks emphasised how language obstacles can serve as a veiled kind of discrimination, and he advocated for stronger rules that promote multilingualism in the workplace.
His statement emphasised that workers should never be disadvantaged due of their language origin. Protecting language rights is essential for creating truly inclusive organisations in which all employees feel respected and heard.
2. Refugees Seeking Citizenship
Toks delivered another riveting speech about the hardship of refugees seeking citizenship. He emphasised the necessity of creating clear paths to citizenship for refugees who contribute effectively to society and the economy.
By assisting these individuals, we uphold the ideas of fairness, compassion, and human rights, which are strongly aligned with both the TUC’s goal and the School of Coding’s philosophy.
Building Bridges: The Strength of Networking and Solidarity
Beyond the podium, the TUC Black Workers Conference 2025 provided an excellent platform for networking and collaboration. Tokunbo collaborated with notable figures, including:
- Dawn Butler, a well-known MP and advocate for equality.
- The Cuban Ambassador to the UK, Bárbara Montalvo Álvarez, is known for developing worldwide solidarity relationships.
- Members of NAHT (National Association of Head Teachers) establish links across education sectors.
These conversations not only enriched Toks’s experience but also helped to weave stronger networks for advocacy and future action. At the School of Coding, we believe that leadership is built through connections, and the TUC conference offered the perfect environment for this growth.
Why Representation Matters?
Toks’s attendance at the meeting emphasised an important message: representation matters.
When Black academics and professionals take on leadership and advocacy roles, they lay the groundwork for future generations. They dispel misconceptions, question biases, and contribute fresh viewpoints that propel progress.
At the School of Coding, we are delighted to support and celebrate leaders like Toks, who inspire change in the education sector and throughout society.
Our ongoing commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion
Participating in events such as the TUC Black Workers Conference is only one aspect of our greater journey. At the School of Coding, we are currently working on:
- Developing accessible technology education programs for students of all backgrounds.
- Promoting diversity in the IT business, creating greater chances for Black and minority ethnic professionals.
- Integrating safeguarding and inclusion principles into all aspects of our work.
- Partnering with organisations that promote equality and justice
We recognise that genuine inclusion necessitates conscious action, and we are dedicated to being a catalyst for change in both the IT world and society as a whole.
Conclusion: A Proud Milestone for the School of Coding
The TUC Black Workers Conference 2025 was a source of pride, growth, and inspiration for the School of Coding. We are proud of Toks’s leadership, eloquence, and guts in speaking out on important matters.
As we continue to educate, innovate, and empower, we renew our commitment to standing with our communities, challenging inequality, and amplifying the voices that create positive change.
Through knowledge and action, we are creating a better, more inclusive future.
