Empowerment Services for Black Women

OUR SERVICES

Women in the Shade (WITS) is a strategic development, research, and consultancy organisation that provides vital uniformed services support across the public sector. We specialise in evidence-led development, organisational change, and inclusive practice, particularly concentrating on Black women empowerment in uniformed roles. Our work assists both individuals and organisations in moving beyond intention to achieve measurable, sustainable change. Grounded in professional expertise, sector insight, and lived experience, we partner with organisations to strengthen systems, inform policy, and embed equity into everyday practice, while also offering conference planning services to further these goals.

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Our Core Areas of Work

Audience clapping during an indoor event with pink gift bags on seats.

Conference and Sector Engagement

WITS designs and delivers strategic, purpose-led events that bring together leaders, practitioners, and lived-experience voices to drive sector progress, with a focus on Black women empowerment.

We deliver:

- The annual WITS CPD accredited conference

- Local and national roundtables

- Cross-sector learning and engagement sessions

- Bespoke conference planning services and convening for partner organisations, including those that support uniformed services.

Our events create safe, credible, and impactful spaces for dialogue, challenge, and collective action.

Two women engaging in a friendly conversation indoors.

Research & Thought Leadership

We generate insight that helps organizations understand the experiences, barriers, and opportunities affecting Black women in uniformed services, ultimately supporting their empowerment. Our research aims to inform policy and practices, shape sector-wide learning, and drive evidence-based decision-making, particularly in the realm of uniformed services support. Our work includes: sector research and insight reports, academic and practitioner roundtables, contributions to thought leadership, and evidence reviews and thematic analysis. Through our conference planning services, we create credible, accessible knowledge that drives meaningful change.

Women in the Shade Development Programme

The Women in the Shade Development Programme is a structured, evidence-informed initiative that champions Black women empowerment by supporting the progression, wellbeing, and retention of Black and minoritised women (officers and staff).

This CPD accredited programme offers psychologically safe, professionally facilitated environments, essential for participants to:

- Build leadership confidence and capability

- Navigate organisational structures and complexity

- Understand and address systemic barriers

- Align personal development with organisational priorities

- Contribute to positive cultural and organisational change

Our approach acknowledges that individual development and organisational systems are interconnected—sustainable progress necessitates attention to both. Additionally, our conference planning services ensure that events focusing on uniformed services support can effectively highlight these critical issues.

WITS Assessment Framework

The WITS Assessment Framework is our sector-informed tool designed to help organizations understand how their systems, culture, and practices impact Black women, ultimately supporting Black women empowerment.

We provide:

- Framework implementation and guidance

- Diagnostic reviews and organisational baselining

- Action planning and progress monitoring

- Support to embed equitable practice into everyday systems, including conference planning services and uniformed services support.

The framework enables organizations to move from awareness to structured, measurable improvement.