This is a BAATN Gathering Event
BAATN Weekend Conference
Modern Masculinity in all its Colours
Saturday 18th April 2026 (including evening Dinner and entertainment) and Sunday 19th April 2026
Booking Closes, 7th April 2026
Outline
This conference proposes that masculinity itself is not the problem, but the lack of grounded, healthy masculinity, and that the so-called “toxic masculinity” is, in fact, a sign of weakness rather than strength.
This theme affects everyone, whether we identify as male, female, non-binary, gender fluid, or another gender. This conference will examine the limits of purely biological definitions, the impact of social conditioning, and the influence of cultural, spiritual, and religious backgrounds—as well as other forces that shape our current ideas of masculinity and support a collective movement towards more authentic and personal expressions of it.
We will challenge toxic expressions of masculinity—aggression, emotional suppression, and limiting stereotypes—while promoting ethical power, emotional vulnerability and self-reflection. We ask: could redefining our relationship with masculinity help heal our communities and our world?
As always, we will approach this year’s theme, ‘modern masculinity in all its colours’, with an open mind to better support our clients and ourselves.
Our annual conferences offer us a rare opportunity to:
- come together, share our knowledge,
- tell our stories and feel connected
- gain mutual support and inspiration.
Booking
This will be our fourth two-day conference at the Kents Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes, which gets better each year. You can attend both days or just one. On Saturday evening, we have dinner with entertainment plus a DJ. If you book everything, there’s a discount. On Saturday night, you can book a room at the conference venue or book your accommodation elsewhere in Milton Keynes.
– Students, get a student discount.
– Lunch and dinner are Halal
– There will also be a dedicated space for prayer. Some prayer mats will be there, but feel free to bring your own, and sheeting is provided.
This conference is for people of African, Asian and Caribbean heritage. The conference is also open to other People of Colour who are also affected by prejudice due to the colour of their skin and global white power.
Comments from last year
“The conference was nourishing, inspiring & informative; best conference I’ve ever attended in my career as a therapist”
Davina Aidoo
“The conference nourishes my soul, opens up reflections about how I approach my work and gives me a reset to go back into the world again.”
Jennifer Jean-Paul Integrative Psychodynamic counsellor
Dates and Times
Saturday 18th April, 2026 – 9:30 am registration and Yoga, 10:30 am start – 5:00 pm end (Saturday Night dinner, DJ and entertainment 7:00 pm to midnight)
Sunday 19th April 2026 – 9:00 am registration, 09:30 am start – 3:30 pm end
Booking closes on the 7th April 2026, at 1 pm.
Speakers
Chairs
Saturday – Eugene Ellis
Sunday – Karen Minikin
Keynote speakers
Anne-The Therapist – Beneath the Armour: Pressure, Identity and Release
Dr Manrutt Wongkaew – Rainbow Warriors: A Journey Through Pride, Shame, and Queer Becoming
Param Singh Sahni – From Silence to Sovereignty: Emotional Liberation for Men from the Global Majority
Charles Brown – Deconstructing The Symbolic Black Phallus
Conference Workshops
Saturday
- Reflection on keynote talk: Beneath the Armour: Pressure, Identity and Release – Anne-The Therapist
- Reflection on keynote talk: Rainbow Warriors: A Journey Through Pride, Shame, and Queer Becoming – Dr Manrutt Wongkaew
- Fathers (and other significant male figures influencing you / your existence) and Daughters (and those persons otherwise not male identifying) – Carmen Joanne Ablack
- Living Your True Self — Is This Possible or Even Desirable? – Mehboob Dada
- Masculinity – Journey from Afrika via Caribbean to UK, Father, self and son – Noel Brown
- Masculinity on Trial – Roy Akins
- Men’s Gathering space – hosted by members of the monthly BAATN Men’s Gathering
Sunday
- Reflection on keynote talk: From Silence to Sovereignty: Emotional Liberation for Men from the Global Majority – Param Singh Sahni
- Reflection on keynote talk: Deconstructing The Symbolic Black Phallus – Charles Brown
- Fathers (and other significant male figures influencing you / your existence) and Daughters (and those persons otherwise not male identifying) – Carmen Joanne Ablack
- Masculinity – Journey from Afrika via Caribbean to UK, Father, self and son – Noel Brown
- Masculinity on Trial – Roy Akins
- Meaning-Making Masculinities: the stories we hold in the body – Kirath Ghataora
Dinner and Entertainment
karaoke
DJ Dyn Dyn (pronounced Din Din)
DJ Dyn Dyn co-founded The Melody Men, an all-female commercial house and dance production group, whose music has surpassed 10 million streams across major platforms. Her sets are known for their eclectic blend, ranging from House and Tech House to Hip-Hop, R&B, Afrobeat, Bollywood, and 80s/90s Classics, tailored to diverse audiences.
Venue
Kents Hill Park Conference Centre,
Timbold Drive, Kents Hill Park, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK7 6BZ
New Beacon Books, established in 1966 by John La Rose and his partner, Sarah White, will be present at the conference on Saturday only.
It was the UK’s first black publisher, specialist bookshop, and international book distributor.
New Beacon Books has a diverse range of poetry, literature, non-fiction, history, and children’s books from Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, African America, Europe, South America, and Black Britain.
76 Stroud Green Road, London, England, N4 3EN – https://www.newbeaconbooks.com/
PROGRAMME
Saturday, 18th April 2026
09:30 – Tea / Coffee / Registration
10:00 -10.15 Yoga session
10.30 – Conference Start – Introduction to the conference and opening remarks – Eugene Ellis, founder and director of BAATN
10.45 – Opening Ritual
11:00 – Keynote: Anne-The Therapist – Beneath the Armour: Pressure, Identity and Release (30 min followed by 15 min reflections)
11:45 – Break (30 mins)
12:15 – Keynote: Dr Manrutt Wongkaew – Rainbow Warriors: A Journey Through Pride, Shame, and Queer Becoming (30 min followed by 15 min reflections)
13:00 – Lunch (1hr 30 min)
14:30 – Workshops (1hr 30 min)
16:00 – Break (30 min)
16:30 – Plenary and Ending Ritual (30 mins)
17.00 – End
Dinner
19:00 – Meet for welcome drinks
19:30 – Dinner
21:30 – Entertainment and DJ
24:00 – End of evening
Sunday, 19th April 2026
09:00 – Registrations
09.30 – Conference Start – Introduction to the conference and opening remarks
09:35 – Opening Ritual
09:45 – Keynote: Param Singh Sahni – From Silence to Sovereignty: Emotional Liberation for Men from the Global Majority (30 min followed by 15 min reflections)
10:30 Break (30 mins)
11:00 – Keynote: Charles Brown – Deconstructing The Symbolic Black Phallus (30 min followed by 15 min reflections)
11:45 – Celebrations and Notice board
12:00 – Lunch (1hr 15 min)
13:15 – Workshops (1hr 30 min)
14:45 – Break (15 mins)
15:00 – Plenary and Ending Ritual (30 mins)
15.30 – End
Cost
This conference is for people of African, Asian and Caribbean heritage. The conference is also open to other People of Colour who are also affected by prejudice due to the colour of their skin and global white power.
Accommodation will need to be booked separately. You can book single, twin and triple accommodation at the conference venue. To indicate that you are part of our group, please mention the code BAATN26 when you book. Rooms booked at the conference venue can be cancelled and refunded up to three days in advance. Please book early to avoid disappointment. You can also, of course, look for accommodation elsewhere.
MEMBER TICKET |
| Complete package Sat & Sun + Dinner & Entertainment Normal Fee £290 |
| Saturday Day Ticket Normal Fee £130 |
| Saturday Dinner & Entertainment Normal Fee £75 |
| Sunday Day Ticket Normal Fee £120 |
| *** |
STUDENT MEMBER Ticket |
| Complete package Sat-Sun & Dinner & Entertainment Normal Fee £215 |
| Saturday Day Ticket Normal Fee £95 |
| Saturday Dinner & Entertainment Normal Fee £65 |
| Sunday Day Ticket Normal Fee £80 |
| *** |
NON-MEMBER TICKET |
| Complete package Sat & Sun + Dinner & Entertainment Normal Fee £360 |
| Saturday Day Ticket Normal Fee £165 |
| Saturday Dinner & Entertainment Normal Fee £95 |
| Sunday Day Ticket Normal Fee £140 |
Booking Conditions
-
Bookings can be made any time up until Tuesday, 2nd April, at 1 pm.
-
If you have difficulty booking, email the events administrator
-
Email the events administrator to go on the waiting list if an event is full. If a place becomes available, priority will be given to those at the top of the waiting list.
Full payment is required to guarantee a place.
What delegates from last year said:
“I have never been to a conference that has left me feeling so enriched, inspired, connected and uplifted. Such a wonderful experience. Thank you and see you next year!”
Yvonne Johnson-Mills
“What a delight and privilege to have been part of such an enriching, connected experience. I am already eagerly anticipating next year’s offering!”
“The conference nourishes my soul, opens up reflections about how I approach my work and gives me a reset to go back into the world again.”
Jennifer Jean-Paul Integrative Psychodynamic counsellor
“This is the first baatn event I have attended and it has changed my life. I can’t wait to get more involved and contribute to the network in any way I can!”
Raveena
“Simply, I found my tribe.”
“It was my first time attending, and wow, it was amazing to see people in the field who looked like me. It felt so good not to be in the minority for once, definitely attending the conference again”
Monique Fearon
“Thank you for creating and facilitating such an incredibly nourishing, playful and thoughtful community. There was so much connection, through both laughter and tears and an abundance of love and care. I am already looking forward to next year”
Dr Saafi Mousa
“The conference was nourishing, inspiring & informative; best conference I’ve ever attended in my career as a therapist”
Davina Aidoo
“Attending the BAATN Conference was a way of pouring back into myself and this was my first ever BAATN event, online or in-person. For me, it felt like going back to your childhood home as an adult and bringing something meaningful back with you like the toy you used to love playing with as a child, or family photos that give you joy. I needed to bring something back home to myself and being at the conference did that for me.”
Anaum Hammad
Day tickets include lunch and refreshments throughout the day. Booking closes on the 7th April, 1 pm. Accommodation will need to be booked separately (click on the cost tab above for more details)
This conference is for people of African, Asian and Caribbean heritage. The conference is also open to other People of Colour who are also affected by prejudice due to the colour of their skin and global white power.