Building a Movement for Stigma-Free Systems

New free resources to help you move from Awareness to Action

Across the UK, momentum is growing. More people are recognising the harms of stigma and discrimination. More organisations are questioning assumptions that have gone unchallenged for many decades. More professionals are asking how they can create services that are genuinely person-centred, inclusive and effective.

That growing awareness is really positive, but awareness alone will not dismantle stigma.

Whilst many people can see that stigma exists. They can feel its effects in policies, services and everyday interactions. Yet from our experience they are often less certain about how to identify it, talk about it and challenge it in practice. Identifying stigma shouldn’t feel like you’ve found yet another barrier to equity, it should prompt the question of what we do about it, because that's where change begins.

At the Anti-Stigma Network, we've always believed that people need more than evidence that stigma exists. They need practical tools, shared learning and support and the confidence to act. That's why as much as possible we make our resources freely available.

We are pleased to be launching our first briefings focus on healthcare and the criminal justice system. While these are very different environments, both demonstrate how stigma can unintentionally create barriers to support, influence decision-making, and contribute to unequal outcomes.

Our new policy briefings, alongside our Stigma-Free Organisations Toolkit and other resources, are designed to help people recognise stigma, name it, understand it and take meaningful action to address it.

Because once you can see stigma, you shouldn't be left wondering what to do next. You should feel equipped to act.

We believe a stigma-free future is possible, but it won't happen by itself. It will be created by people across healthcare, criminal justice, housing, employment, social care and communities choosing to take action where they are.

Read the briefings on our website where you can also sign up for news, read our blogs and find the Stigma-Free Organisations Toolkit.

We’re also active on social media so follow and get involved!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antistigmanetwork/#
LinkedIn: Anti-Stigma Network
Bluesky: @anti-stigmanetwork.bsky.social