Media Cultured CIC

WORLD REFUGEE DAY 2026

Standing with people on the move.

Every person has a story, a dignity, and a right to be treated with compassion and humanity.

By building understanding, challenging hatred, and embracing our shared humanity, we create safer, stronger communities for everyone, regardless of where they come from.

EDUCATE | UNITE | INSPIRE

We are incredibly proud to share that Media Cultured Received a Highly Commended recognition in the Community Business of the Year category at the North East Chamber Business Awards 2026.

To stand alongside some of the region’s largest organisations and be recognised for work delivered locally and internationally is a truly humbling achievement for our Teesside-based social enterprise.

Thank you to our incredible team, friends and partners who continue to support our journey as we strive to promote unity, understanding and peace through education, film and sport.

England. United. Inspires.

Football has the power to bring us together.
Different backgrounds, one team, one dream.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Come on England! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿



Media Cultured
Educate. Unite. Inspire.
www.mediacultured.org

This past weekend, I had the privilege of delivering a keynote at the RISE North East Sport Welfare Conference, exploring how sport and education can help build stronger, safer and more united communities.

It was fantastic to engage with organisations from across football, athletics, boxing, rowing and many other sports, all committed to improving welfare and inclusion.

I was also honoured to share the platform with Clarke Carlisle - whose powerful and honest reflections on mental health and wellbeing left a lasting impact. Alongside a number of excellent case studies, the day highlighted both the progress being made and the challenges that remain.

At a time when communities continue to face division and uncertainty, sport remains one of our most powerful tools for bringing people together, building understanding and creating positive change.

My sincere thanks to RISE and Tees Valley Sport for the opportunity to contribute. The response was incredibly encouraging and reinforced an important message: there is still much work to do, but together we can make a real difference.

Over the last two weeks, we’ve worked with schools, youth workers, community groups and sports organisations to promote social unity, challenge hate and bring people together.

At a time when division too often makes the headlines, we’re grateful to everyone who continues to stand against , and prejudice in all its forms.

There’s still much work to do, but together we can make a difference.

We’re honoured to have been shortlisted for the Community Business of the Year Award by the North East Chamber of Commerce alongside some incredible organisations from across our region.

As a social enterprise from Teesside, this recognition means a great deal to us - especially alongside the brilliant and internationally recognised businesses who are also shortlisted in our category.

For nearly 14 years, Media Cultured has used education, training, film & sport to promote inclusion, cultural intelligence, social unity and cohesion across communities, schools, sport and public services.

With everything happening across the world and here in the UK, this work continues to matter deeply. Recognition like this only strengthens our determination to keep pushing forward against division.

Congratulations to everyone shortlisted and thank you to the NECC for the recognition.

Last night in San Diego, three Muslims were reportedly killed in what appears to be another horrific hate crime and act of TERRORISM!

It is heartbreaking. But sadly, for many Muslims around the world, it is also not surprising.

For decades, anti-Muslim hatred has too often been normalised, downplayed, excused or politically weaponised. From sections of the media to political rhetoric, from online abuse to organised far-right activity on our streets, Islamophobia continues to be treated differently to many other forms of racism.

Words matter. Narratives matter.
Constant suspicion, dehumanisation and fearmongering have real-world consequences.

When communities are repeatedly portrayed as threats, outsiders or less worthy of empathy, violence becomes easier to justify in the minds of extremists.

This should concern everybody, regardless of faith or background.

Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and the wider community affected by this tragedy.

Hate should never become normal - but for many of us, it has.

Setting the standard again with
North Yorkshire Police.

• World-class training.
• Real conversations.
• Real change.

Thank you to all the student officers and the trainers who support our work!