The #InclusionRevolution campaign takes centre stage at brand-new Anthropy Conference

DFN Project SEARCH and the DFN Foundation is delighted to have taken a central role at Anthropy, a brand-new event bringing together UK leaders and influencers at the Eden Project in Cornwall.

David Forbes-Nixon, Executive Chair and Founder of the DFN Foundation and DFN Project SEARCH and Claire Cookson, CEO of DFN Project SEARCH hosted several panel sessions across the three-day event, using the opportunity to promote DFN Project SEARCH’s new #InclusionRevolution campaign which aims to boost the number of people in employment with a learning disability or autism spectrum condition.

Over 1,000 executives, policymakers and thought leaders joined the Anthropy conference to discuss issues ranging from sustainability, education, and health to the arts, sport, media, technology and Diversity Equity and Inclusion.

David Forbes-Nixon and Claire Cookson hosted a chaired a panel event titled ‘Tapping the Untapped: How to diversify and improve your workforce with our untapped talent pool’ referring to the community of around 1 million people with a learning disability or autism spectrum condition that could join the workforce. They was joined by Steve Mills, Director of IT for DPD UK and Nicola Brentnall, CEO Ajaz.org and In his opening speech David Forbes Nixon said: “At DFN Project SEARCH, we are taking action. At the end of September, we launched the #InclusionRevolution with an ambition to support at least 10,000 young adults with a learning disability into jobs by 2030 and 20,000 by 2035. I dream that my children and all others with a learning disability and autism will not be shaped by their disabilities, but their skills and experiences. Together with you and other employers, let’s work to make this dream a reality.”

The #InclusionRevolution initiative is calling on all UK businesses to review their recruitment procedures and consider employing more young adults with a learning disability, autism spectrum condition, or both.

During the event, Claire Cookson said: “Partnering with DFN Project SERACH offers businesses across the UK an opportunity to benefit from the untapped talent pool of neurodiverse people, while at the same time having a transformational impact on the health, wellbeing, quality of life and social integration of the people employed. Ultimately, we’re striving to enable people with a learning disability to achieve financial, emotional, and social independence.”

John O’Brien MBE, Anthropy founder, said: “We are so thrilled to have DFN Project SEARCH and the DFN Foundation on board as a partner of the conference. As the UK’s largest ever crowd-sourced agenda, we rely heavily on the generosity of organisations like DFN Project SEARCH and the DFN Foundation, as the event just would not be possible without them.”

Anthropy took place across three days from 2-4 November at the renowned Eden Project in Cornwall.