Julian Harrison Consultant

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about

After working in academia and then in rugby league development and promotion, I have spent the last twenty years of my life working in community engagement, development and in the specific areas of equality, diversity, community cohesion and human rights. Indeed, I am  recognised and respected for this work both in Leicestershire and wider afield. Originally trained as a musician – I gained a music scholarship to Gordonstoun and then studied music at the University of Durham – I went on to pursue other interests gaining further qualifications from the Universities of Leicester and Leeds. However, my ongoing passion for social justice and history resulted in an immersion in exploring themes related to the Holocaust. During the course of the last fifteen years or so I have spent many weeks visiting Holocaust related sites in Germany, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Austria, France and Poland, undertaking research and taking photographs. I established Holocaust Memorial Day observance at my place of work, producing annual exhibitions and lectures based on my own research material. My identity as a passionate campaigner for human rights also stems from my own mental illness (I have clinical depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Anxiety Disorder) and the life of my brother, Danny, who had Down Syndrome and who sadly passed away in 1996. I am also autistic. I devote a lot of my time to encouraging a greater awareness and understanding of mental ill health and autism, offering advice and guidance to those directly affected and addressing the stigma and discrimination that still seems to accompany both mental illness and neurodevelopmental conditions. I have spoken in the media, to organisations, students and in public on these matters and do lots of work from a lived experience perspective in universities, for mental health organisations and others. I live in Wigston Harcourt, on the edge of the city of Leicester. I am married (to Lesley) and have four children – Leomi, Luke, Joel and Ellory – and two grandchildren, Lily and Lenny

The Trainer

Julian provided training in a style that was engaging, relevant and promoted self-reflection. I thoroughly enjoyed the learning experience.

If it’s training that you’re after, I can offer both Equality and Diversity and related bespoke packages. As the quotes from previous clients on this page testify, what I do is not just the standard legal and mechanical stuff. I give something a little bit more!

The training was engaging as well as informative and challenged me (in a non-confrontational way), to look closely at my own practice as well as that of other agencies. The presentation was first rate too. Julian knows how to use PowerPoint to maximum effect!

I try to make things relevant and interesting. I scrutinise and I challenge. I see things broadly and in context. I recognise that what people are after is not just information that relates to their place of work and their job. They want something that is life-enriching and possibly even life-changing! Something that relates to them as individuals, not just as employees.

The Equality and Diversity training that Julian provided was really useful and I will be able to apply it to my day to day work. It gave a good insight into why Equality and Diversity is important and how it can be embedded into our organisation’s ethos and practice.

We recently commissioned Julian to provide two half day workshops around Diversity and Equality. The entire staff team attended – 40 individuals, and everyone found the workshop extremely useful and informative – even the legal stuff wasn’t boring! I would recommend that you discuss any equality training issues with Julian. He’s also a very nice chap!

Excellent session. I was touched and impressed by Julian sharing his personal story and challenges with EDI, which helped me put it all in context too. I recommend him for further workshops on this topic or even compulsory training every couple of years.

Julian’s session on EDI was really comprehensive – it covered a lot more ground than I thought it would. Some great discussions were had. I think all staff should attend this or a similar course as I think a lot of people have misconceptions as to what EDI due to all the negativity/backlash around it in the media (e.g. the misconception that it’s just about race and gender/it’s a box ticking exercise) – this course demystifies what is meant by EDI and how it can inform and improve our work 🙂 Julian was also a great facilitator, I learned a lot and it was a really enjoyable session.

Julian is one of those rare people who understands a brief and delivers too it – and makes the process so smooth and seemingly effortless that he is a true pleasure to work with. Julian’s communication style in his training is warm, empathetic and inclusive. Julian ‘wears’ his extensive knowledge and experience lightly – so as a participant you feel instantly at ease. feeling you are being addressed by a friend who has something he wants to share with you. I cannot recommend Julian highly enough.

Please get in touch with me if you think I can help you, your group or organisation or you want a non-obligation quote. My fees are more than reasonable and offer excellent value for money.