Welcome and Belonging Podcast

Community & Diversity

Friday 20 November 2026

Feeling welcomed and experiencing a sense of belonging are fundamental to building strong, thriving communities and faith settings. This podcast-style learning session explores what welcome and belonging truly mean in practice, and how individuals, teams, volunteers, and leaders can help create environments where everyone feels valued, respected, and connected.

Through engaging discussion, reflective scenarios, and real-life examples, participants will explore the barriers that can prevent people from feeling included and consider practical approaches to fostering meaningful relationships and inclusive cultures. The session encourages listeners to think about their own experiences, challenge assumptions, and identify actions that can strengthen welcome and belonging within their church or community setting.

The podcast includes a series of discussion scenarios designed to prompt reflection and conversation around common situations that arise when welcoming new people, supporting diverse communities, and helping individuals feel that they genuinely belong rather than simply attend or participate.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this podcast, participants wil be able to :

• Understand the difference between being welcomed and experiencing genuine belonging
• Recognise factors that can help or hinder inclusion within community and church settings. 
• Reflect on personal and organisational approaches to welcoming others. 
• Explore practical responses to real-life scenarios relating to inclusion and belonging.
• Identify actions that can help create more inclusive, connected, and supportive environments. 
• Access resources to continue developing practice around welcoming and belonging. 

Who is it for:

• Anyone with an interest in moving beyond simply welcoming people through the door to creating spaces where everyone can feel seen, heard, valued and experience a genuine sense of belonging.
• Places of Welcome Coordinators and volunteers
• Welcome Teams
• Sidespeople

Course Hosts: 

• Podcast Host: Carrie Blount (Community Development Officer, Diocese of Lichfield)
• Podcast Guests: Su Parker (Enabling All Coordinator, Diocese of Lichfield) and Andy Wynter (Racial Justice Strategic Development Coordinator, Diocese of Lichfield)

Time: 10:00am - 11:30am

Venue: Online via Zoom

Cost: Free

Book this course