Belonging isn’t a luxury.
It’s a human need—a fundamental right.
It’s the kind of thing everyone needs, and everyone wants. So why is it still so rare?
The truth is, most workplaces were not built with belonging in mind.
In fact, many were built to do the opposite: to prioritise comfort over accountability, performance over care, assimilation over inclusion.
Too often, organisations invite people to fit in—to shrink, shift, and conform in order to be accepted. But fitting in is not the same as belonging.
To fit in, you mould yourself to survive.
To belong, you show up as you are—and know that you’re safe to stay.
The cost of not belonging is high
What Belonging Looks like
Through our research and lived experience, we’ve identified five core cultures that create conditions for true belonging. These aren’t “nice to haves”—they’re essentials for any organisation serious about equity.
Cultures of Care
Environments where people are supported, valued, and psychologically safe.
Cultures of Collaboration
Spaces where diverse perspectives are embraced and new ideas can flourish.
Cultures of Empowerment
Settings where power is understood, shared, and used for collective good.
Cultures of Abundance
Systems where generosity, opportunity, and resources are distributed equitably.
Cultures of Accountability
Practices where integrity is upheld and trust is built through transparent, values-driven action.
Our Approach
Our Culture Audit is designed to uncover where these five cultures are flourishing—and where they need space to grow.
We start with an anti-Black lens, centring the voices of those most excluded by current systems.
From there, we apply an intersectional lens to understand how power, privilege, and exclusion show up across race, gender, class, disability, and more.
Because when we design with the most marginalised in mind,
we build something better for everyone.
What It Includes
We tailor each audit to your organisation’s size, structure, and specific goals, combining data with lived experience to create an honest picture of your culture today.
Every Belonging Audit includes a mixture of:
| Quantitative | Qualitative |
|---|---|
| Staff-wide surveys | Focus groups across teams & levels |
| Inclusion & wellbeing benchmarks | 1:1 interviews with key stakeholders inc staff networks and marginalised groups |
| Pulse checks & repeat testing | Facilitated town halls & listening spaces |
What You Get
Our Culture Audit isn’t just a diagnostic—it’s a starting point for transformation.
You’ll receive:
A detailed, anonymised culture report
Unpacking the external perception and internal reality of your organisational culture—grounded in lived experience, not just theory.
A breakdown of what’s working—and where harm is happening
Clear responses to key questions like:
“Which behaviours are rewarded here?”
“Which behaviours are punished?”
Practical, organisation-specific recommendations
Rooted in what we’ve heard and responding to your unique requirements.
Support to respond
We’ll help you digest the findings and, if needed, co-design interventions or point you to trusted partners who can support next steps.
Who It’s For
This audit is for leaders, teams, and organisations who are ready to dig deeper.
It’s for you if:
- You want to move beyond performative DEI and do the real work
- You’ve implemented an anti-racist or DEI action plan and want to understand its impact
- You’re unsure how people are really experiencing your culture
- You’re ready to listen, be accountable, and take meaningful action
- You’re navigating a strategy shift, restructure, or leadership change—and want to get it right
Add-ons
We can also build in:
-
Staff coaching circles
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Line manager debrief sessions
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Follow-up learning or strategy workshops
”The What If Experiment is a revelation. The work they did at the Young Vic is nothing short of extraordinary. Our partnership has enabled us to see the changes we need to move from an outdated 21st century model, to a theatre fit for the future. For me personally, as a Black Artistic Director, this theatre now feels like mine. As our country and sector continues debates around equality & inclusion, there’s only one organisation I would recommend to help us negotiate this moment.
Kwame Kwei-Armah (He/Him)Writer, Film and Theatre Director
