Pathways Out of Powerlessness - Glasgow, Scotland, In-Person

Universal Recognition CIC & Doughnut Economics Scotland Network are hosting this in-person local event for marginalised organisers and marginalised-led organisations as part of Global Doughnut Days (GDD) 2026.

The festival unites global events and people working to build a fairer future for people and planet.

Our local Scotland event is an opportunity for local Scottish organisers from marginalised backgrounds to meet, socialise and workshop low-stakes pathways towards fairer and safer futures based on what the most excluded in social justice spaces express and understand that they need.

Event Activity Overview

Marginalised organisers and marginalised-led organisations will have the opportunity to:

• Share and celebrate their own wisdom, successes, and projects.
• Create a big picture power sharing map on what is needed from larger organisations in greater positions of decision-making power.
• Connect with other marginalised grassroots groups for accessible solidarity building.
• Have a cuppa and a chat , and make use of our wellbeing attendee packs (subject to availability).
• Engage at an accessible pace through low-stakes, slow, and multi-sensory facilitation options designed with diverse access needs in mind.
• Drop in 20 minutes early to check out the space and its sensory setup, get settled ahead of time, or use available sighted guidance for those who benefit from this.

After the festival, the maps and stories shared during the workshop will be compiled into a story-based report and resource on the DEAL website. Attendees will be briefed on this at the start, with the option to share stories and ideas anonymously or choose to be credited for any work you are proud of. Once published, marginalised organisers and organisations can use this resource to help evidence need to funders and supporters to collectively assist their own work going forwards.

About Our Hosts

Universal Recognition CIC is a grassroots and Disabled-led co-design organisation working towards improved accessibility and fairer future services, spaces and systems for all.

"We are an organisation run by marginalised disabled people for all people. We work together with others to make spaces, services, and systems easier, more joyful and safer to use. We create ways forward and guidance that helps make sure everything is fair and works well for everyone.”

Who this event is for

This is an in-person event for marginalised organisers and marginalised-led organisations based in Glasgow, Scotland and surrounding regions.

You may be marginalised if you face any of the following experiences:

• Poverty & Money Worries: Not having enough money to live comfortably, pay bills, or heat your home safely.
• Food Insecurity: Skipping meals, cutting down on portions, or needing to use food banks.
• Racialisation & Racism: Belonging to a Black, Asian, Mixed, or minoritised ethnic community that faces systemic racism.
• Ethnic or Religious Prejudice: Facing discrimination or exclusion as a Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, migrant, or person of a marginalised faith.
• LGBTQ+ Barriers: Facing exclusion or safety risks due to your sexual orientation, trans identity, or gender expression.
• Ableism & Accessibility Barriers: Navigating physical, sensory, learning, or cognitive disabilities in a world built without your needs in mind.
• Chronic Illness & Mental Health: Living with long-term sickness or mental health conditions that limit your ability to work or participate.
• Housing Insecurity: Living in poor-quality housing, temporary accommodation, or facing the risk of homelessness.

You might be marginalised organiser or be a marginalised-led organisation if you are marginalised and undertake any of the activities listed below:

• Community Advocacy: Being an advocate, champion, or representative for your community.
• Peer Groups: Running a local group, peer-support space, or social meet-up.
• Community Spaces: Managing an accessible venue, community hub, or shared space for folks from your background.
• Grassroots Support: Coordinating local resource hubs, pantries, mutual aid, or community food projects.
• Campaigning & Awareness: Leading community campaigns or educational projects to challenge discrimination and exclusion.
• Community & PAR Research: Leading community-led research or Participatory Action Research (PAR) to gather local stories, document barriers, and influence change.
• Running Organisations: Leading or managing charities, CICs, non-profits, or grassroots organisations.
• Institutional Roles: Working or volunteering within a larger institution (like an academic, public sector, or funding body) that supports social justice aims.

If any of the above applies and you are working or volunteering with the aim to address these issues then you are who this event is for.

Accessibility

Access provisions that will be available within our funding and resources:

• Venue Layout: Detailed layout information can be reviewed in the Boardwalk access information.
• Building Work Outside: Please note there are ongoing works happening outside the building. Please check back here closer to the date for updates on how this might impact entering the building.
• Step-Free Access: Flat, level access is available throughout the building via the venue lifts.
• Light Levels Our Workshop Room: We will be hosting the event in The Black Room. The room is painted dark but has windows for natural light. We will likely need to use the overhead lighting so everyone can see the workshop activities clearly. Lighter rooms were not available on this date due to the venue works.
• Sound & Room Acoustics: The space does have some curtains to soften auditory bounce and excessive noise.
• Spacious Layout: We are inviting a maximum number of attendees that is lower than the actual capacity of the room. This will enable plenty of room to move around comfortably, room for wheelchairs, and create better personal space.
• PA / Support Worker Spaces: If you require a ticket for your Personal Assistant (PA) or support worker, please make sure to book your PA ticket along with your own booking.
• Transcription & Captioning: We are planning to run live transcription and captioning for our facilitator through the projection screen. Please note we will not be able to do this for multiple workshop attendee conversations and the room will likely include background noise from the group discussions.
• Face Coverings & Masks: You are very welcome to wear a face covering if this helps you participate safely. Please be aware that some attendees are hard of hearing and may not be able to hear or lip-read while you are wearing a mask.
• Community Illness Policy: Please do not attend the event if you feel unwell or have been in close contact with anyone who has a cold or an active infection.
• Ticket Re-release: Attendee spaces are limited. If you find you are unable to attend, please contact us to re-release your ticket so someone else can take your place.
• Community Sensory Kit: We hope to have a community sensory kit available on the day. Please check back here closer to the event for final confirmation.
• No BSL Interpretation: We are not able to provide British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters on this occasion. We are working to secure funding and fundraising for BSL interpreters for future iterations of this event.
• Learning & Reading Resources: Easy Read versions of all workshop slides and activities will be made available to everyone.
• Quiet Early Arrival: We are offering a quiet familiarisation space at 1:00pm (20 minutes before the official start). This is for anyone who needs to familiarise themselves with the space, the sensory set-up and get seated ahead of time due to access reasons. This time is suitable for folks with mobility challenges, visual impairment, anxiety or sensory processing differences who would benefit from extra time to get comfortable. See also sighted guidance below.
• Sighted Guidance: Sighted guidance staff will be available in the room during the 20-minute early arrival period (1:00pm to 1:20pm) to support anyone with visual impairments navigating the space and settling in ahead of time.
• Consistent Room Layout: The general layout of the space will not be altered during the event.
• Takeaway Wellbeing Packs: We are hoping to provide takeaway wellbeing packs for attendees, subject to availability. Low-sensory items will be handed out at 4:10pm for those with sensory sensitivities. If you do not have sensory sensitivities, please stay for the higher-sensory item handout at 4:20pm. Please check back here for final confirmation.
• Supporter & Donor Organisations: If you run an organisation that would like to donate to our attendee wellbeing packs, please get in touch with UniversalRecognitionHub@Gmail.Com as soon as possible to organise this.

Reserve your space now:

Please book to secure your space as numbers are limited. Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pathways-out-of-powerlessness-local-tickets-2002763669047

Ticket Re-release: If you find you are unable to attend, please contact us via the Eventbrite/booking link to re-release your ticket so someone else can take your place. 

Image Description: A colourful spiral shape populated by diverse people travelling forwards. The people are surrounded by fir trees, thistles, bens and structures topped traffic cones (If you are Scottish then you know). Some of the people are young others old, some are children, wheelchair users, two use white canes, another works with a service dog, some people have colourful hair, others wear hijabs and hair coverings. Surrounding the