Welcome to YOUbuntu CIC
Hi, I'm Helena
I'm the founder of YOUbuntu CIC and an Anti-Racism & Racial Literacy Specialist with over 20 years' experience working across education, workplaces and community settings.
Growing up as a mixed-race woman, I experienced racism first-hand from an early age. Those experiences, combined with my background in education, inspired me to create YOUbuntu – a place where people can explore race, identity and belonging openly, honestly and without fear of judgement.
Since founding YOUbuntu in 2023, I've had the privilege of working with thousands of students, educators and professionals, helping them build confidence, challenge misconceptions and develop a deeper understanding of one another. I believe lasting change happens when people feel safe enough to ask difficult questions, listen with empathy and learn together. That's exactly what every YOUbuntu session is designed to achieve.
Who We Are
YOUbuntu CIC exists to create safe, engaging and thought-provoking spaces where conversations about race, diversity, inclusion and belonging become opportunities for learning rather than something to avoid.
Inspired by the South African philosophy of Ubuntu – "I am because we are" – we believe that understanding each other's stories strengthens all of us. Through honest conversations, shared experiences, history and culture, we help people explore challenging topics with curiosity, empathy and respect. Our aim isn't to tell people what to think; it's to give them the confidence, knowledge and understanding to think differently, connect more deeply and contribute to more inclusive communities.
How We Help
We deliver interactive workshops, staff training, assemblies, keynote talks and facilitated discussions for schools, colleges, universities, workplaces and community organisations across the UK.
Every session is designed to be engaging, practical and memorable, combining lived experience, historical context, open discussion and interactive activities that encourage participation from everyone in the room. Whether we're supporting young people to understand identity and respect, helping staff respond confidently to racism and discrimination, or guiding organisations towards more inclusive cultures, our focus is always the same: creating meaningful conversations that inspire understanding, encourage action and leave a lasting impact long after the session has finished.
School Programmes
Workshops, assemblies, six-week programmes and staff training that help pupils and teachers explore identity, diversity and belonging in an age-appropriate way — building schools where every young person feels represented.
Workplace Training
Practical training that helps teams challenge unconscious bias, strengthen cultural awareness and navigate conversations about race with empathy and professionalism.
Brave Conversation Spaces
Facilitated discussions where people can ask questions, share experiences and explore different perspectives — openly, honestly and without fear of judgement.
Bespoke & Consultancy
Every programme can be tailored to your audience and objectives, whether that's a single event, a specific challenge or a long-term inclusion strategy.
See Our Testimonials
Helena is a highly motivated, energetic and authentic person. Her dedication to improving community relations and welfare is self-evident. Black History Month South values Helena's input and her spoken word performance was one of the highlights of our Gala Evening at MAST Mayflower Studios. Highly recommend, A***!Lou Taylor — Founder, Black History Month South
Helena was a fabulously engaging presenter. The content was thought provoking and genuinely applicable to me as an educator. For a serious topic, the session was delivered with lashings of humour without ever losing sight of the importance at it's core - exactly how we ourselves can explore issues of discrimination with our own students.John Graham — Head of Media, The Petersfield School
“You are amazing, seriously, being a Mum of 3x mixed race children, i nodded to everything you said. I actually feel really emotional that you have acknowledged feelings, Thank you.”Nicola Ajanaku — Teaching Assistant, The Petersfield School
Helena is a highly motivated, energetic and authentic person. Her dedication to improving community relations and welfare is self-evident. Black History Month South values Helena's input and her spoken word performance was one of the highlights of our Gala Evening at MAST Mayflower Studios. Highly recommend, A***!Lou Taylor — Founder, Black History Month South
Helena was a fabulously engaging presenter. The content was thought provoking and genuinely applicable to me as an educator. For a serious topic, the session was delivered with lashings of humour without ever losing sight of the importance at it's core - exactly how we ourselves can explore issues of discrimination with our own students.John Graham — Head of Media, The Petersfield School
“You are amazing, seriously, being a Mum of 3x mixed race children, i nodded to everything you said. I actually feel really emotional that you have acknowledged feelings, Thank you.”Nicola Ajanaku — Teaching Assistant, The Petersfield School
Helena is a highly motivated, energetic and authentic person. Her dedication to improving community relations and welfare is self-evident. Black History Month South values Helena's input and her spoken word performance was one of the highlights of our Gala Evening at MAST Mayflower Studios. Highly recommend, A***!Lou Taylor — Founder, Black History Month South
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Projects & Work
News & Blog
YOUbuntu Founder Awarded UnLtd Funding
YOUbuntu founder Helena Boyce has been awarded funding from UnLtd, recognising her lived experience, leadership and commitment to creating positive social change through anti-racism and racial literacy.
Why Do We Celebrate Black History Month in the UK?
Black History Month isn't about replacing history—it's about completing it. Discover why Black History Month began in the UK and why it continues to matter today.
So… What Even IS Racial Literacy? (And Why Should Schools Care?)
Racial literacy is more than talking about racism. It's the confidence to recognise, understand and respond to race-related situations with empathy, knowledge and respect.
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