If there’s one thing, I’ve learned from attending conferences, it’s that no two experiences are ever the same. But nothing could’ve prepared me for the UKCF Conference in Harrogate this year—not just the insightful discussions, but also the chaotic journey home, which, believe it or not, included me wedged into a luggage compartment. Yes, you read that right.

Let’s rewind a bit. I was invited to speak on a panel about ‘designing inclusive national programmes’ (through a reparative lens). Reparative grantmaking might sound like a mouthful, but it’s really about fixing systemic inequalities through thoughtful and inclusive approaches to funding. It’s not just about giving grants but ensuring that how we give them and to whom matters deeply.

In this discussion, we dug into the nuances of power dynamics in grantmaking, and I shared insights on how we at Trust for London are designing more inclusive grantmaking approaches—ensuring that communities most impacted by social and economic injustice aren’t just recipients but active stakeholders in the solutions.

One of the key themes centred around power dynamics, a topic that can get a bit uncomfortable. When funders hold the purse strings, it’s easy to see how they also hold most of the power. But how do we shift that balance to create more equitable relationships with grantees? One of my key takeaways was the importance of intentional listening. I don’t mean just nodding along during a meeting—I mean really hearing what communities are saying and acting on that knowledge. Power dynamics can’t shift without deep, continuous engagement and a real commitment to equity.

We also discussed one of those ‘how do we even begin’ questions: how do you talk to a board that doesn’t share the lived experience of the communities it’s supposed to serve? It’s tricky, but it boils down to storytelling and empathy. Sure, bring the data, but also share the human stories that bring those statistics to life. The most challenging conversations are often the most necessary, and sometimes, being a little uncomfortable is a good thing—it’s where the real change starts.

The big question of the day was: what happens if we don’t do this work? Simple: nothing changes. Inaction isn’t neutral—it maintains the status quo, and if the status quo is built on systemic inequity, well, you are part of the problem. So yes, funders, we’ve got to step up.

Now, back to that train ride. Everything was going smoothly until, well, it wasn’t. The train back from Harrogate was cancelled, and I had to scramble for an alternative. Next thing I knew, I found myself huddled in a luggage compartment, having a great conversation with one of my fellow panellists. She was catching her train to Paris, while I was just trying to make it back to Kent in time for the after-school run (mission accomplished, by the way!). Amid the chaos, we talked about everything—from the quirks of grantmaking to the brilliant minds we’d met at the conference. It was one of those unexpected but incredibly rewarding moments you only get when plans go haywire.

To top it all off, after arriving at St Pancras, I rewarded myself with a tasty shawarma for the ride home. As I sat on the train, shawarma in hand, I reflected on the cold, rainy weather in Harrogate and how, despite the challenges, the conference had been well worth it.

So, what did I take away from this year’s UKCF Conference? Beyond the lively panels and insightful discussions, it’s this: we need to keep pushing forward. Whether it’s addressing power imbalances in grantmaking or dealing with delayed trains, flexibility and resilience are essential. Progress, much like travel, is rarely a smooth journey, but the real conversations—and the real change—often happen in the most unexpected places.

Here’s to more reparative grantmaking, and maybe, just maybe, a smoother train ride next year.

Ugo Ikokwu leads Trust for London’s Racial and Economic justice Fund. He currently serves as a Trustee of the Barratt Foundation, Treasurer and Trustee for London Funders, Chair of The Alpha Grove Community Centre, and an Advisory Board Member of Intaconnected.