Welcome to this week’s roundup of the latest news in the marketing world with a touch of inclusion and diversity!
Don’t forget you can follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter for real-time announcements of all our new blog content!
Table of Contents
British Sign Language to be Introduced as GCSE in England
British Sign Language (BSL) will be introduced as a GCSE in England from September 2025. It will be available to all students, and they will be teaching about 1,000 signs and promoting inclusivity in schools. Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, believes it will provide valuable life skills and opportunities for young people.
The National Deaf Children’s Society welcomes the development after a decade of campaigning, emphasising the cultural and historical richness of BSL.
Charli Clement Releases New Book: ‘All Tangled Up’
At the end of 2023, Content creator and Disability advocate, Charli Clement, announced the release of their new book ‘All Tangled Up’, a guide to navigating life with Autism and Chronic Illness. The book covers topics that go from navigating your diagnosis and healthcare, and learning how to manage pain and sensory needs, to dealing with ableism, medical misogyny and transphobia. Charlie offers practical advice by also sharing their own personal experiences.
With a focus on the unique Neurodivergent experience and an exploration into disability pride and joy, ‘All Tangled Up in Autism and Chronic Illness’ has been described as an empowering resource for autistic and chronically ill people, as well as for family members, friends, and healthcare professionals.
New ‘Collections’ Feature on Instagram
Instagram is reportedly working on expanding its ‘Collections’ feature that first launched in March last year, allowing users to share Collections of posts on their profiles.
If launched, this will provide more insights into users’ interests, as well as enhance connections among like-minded people. For brands, it could mean an additional showcase for their products, though concerns about potential clutter are acknowledged.
The release date remains uncertain.
Source: socialmediatoday.com
Jazzy Whipps & Benny Ngo Announce New Show on BBC2
Last year, Deaf content creators and best friends, Jazzy Whipps and Benny Ngo, travelled across the UK in a campervan and documented it for the programme. Now you can watch them on “See Hear on Tour”, where they will be exploring the East Coast on BBC2 at 8am.
It’s amazing to see how the Disabled community is getting more representation in the mainstream media!
TikTok Upgrades App Experience for Larger Devices
TikTok has announced an upgrade to expand beyond mobile and develop its platform for tablets and foldable devices, with the aim to enhance the TikTok experience. Users can now enjoy a refined video feed, streamlined navigation bars, and support for both landscape and portrait orientations.
This update aims to enhance the TikTok experience on larger screens, offering clear visuals and smoother navigation. Additionally, the platform plans to experiment with features like Topic Feeds, allowing users to explore content in various categories.
Source: newsroom.tiktok.com
Campaign Spotlight: Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s is challenging its pricey reputation with their new ad.
The 30-second film is set in a Sainsbury’s store and sees real Sainsbury’s staff explaining that the retailer has low prices as well as good quality. The diversity of the advert is also a great thing to see and features Sainsbury’s staff using BSL.
Source: thedrum.com
Campaign Spotlight: Cadbury
Cadbury’s campaign, ‘Yours for 200 Years’ celebrates the company’s 200 years, and if focuses on the sense of belonging to the nation through both the shared value of generosity, upon which Cadbury was founded, and in products which have become part of British life and culture.
The 60-second film takes viewers through 200 years of British life, beginning in 1824 and travelling through time as the story of a little girl buying her mum a bar of Cadbury Dairy Milk for her birthday is retold. The setting changes subtly around the girl and shopkeeper as time advances, technology and fashions change but, powerfully, the story remains the same.
Source: vccp.com
Campaign Spotlight: Tinder
Tinder’s newest inclusive ad aims to transform the brand into a platform to find more meaningful relationships and friendships. The narrative centres on Ava, who is lonely after moving to London, and turns to Tinder to try and meet people. The spot then shows the app giving her access to a wide circle of relationships, of all kinds.
Conclusion
Make sure to come back to check our bi-weekly news recap with the latest inclusive updates in the marketing and social media worlds. And follow us on social media for more inclusive content!
That’s all for this week, but don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter for real-time announcements of all our new blog content!
