Links are provided to events which may be of interest to secularists. Unless otherwise stated the NSS does not necessarily support or endorse these events. Subscribe to Newsline to keep up to date with new secularism-related events in your area.
18th Charles Bradlaugh Commemoration
Organisers: The Charles Bradlaugh Society
When: Sunday 22nd September 2019 from 3pm
Where: Abington Square, Northampton. NN1 1NN
Charles Bradlaugh: Writer, social reformer, founder of the National Secular Society and member of parliament for Northampton (1880-91). His story will be told at this annual commemoration event.
Faith and Charity: Should ‘the advancement of religion’ remain a charitable purpose?
Organisers: Nottingham Secular Society
When: Tuesday 24th September 2019 from 19:00
Where: The Canal House, 48-52 Canal Street, Nottingham, NG1 7EH
Entrance fee: £2
Megan Manson, campaigns officer at the NSS, will give a talk on how including 'the advancement of religion' in the list of charitable purposes gives religious organisations unfair privilege. She will also talk about the harms caused by some religious charities, and explain why now's the time to challenge the privileged status of religion in charity law.
"No More Faith Schools!"
Organisers: North London Humanist Group
When: Thursday 10th October 2019 from 19:30 for 20.00 start
Where: The Ruth Winston Centre, 190 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 5UE
Tickets: Free event, registration not necessary
From faith schools to coercive worship, and from confessional RE to faith based sex education, our school system is full of inappropriate religious influence, privilege and discrimination. But it doesn't need to be this way, our many fantastic community schools show how we can move towards a secular, inclusive education system.
FiLiA 2019 Conference
Organisers: FiLiA
When: Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th October
Where: The Bradford Hotel, Hall Ings, Bradford, BD1 5SH
Entrance fee: From £5
The NSS will be exhibiting at this Women's Rights Conference. Yasmin Rehman from the NSS council, and NSS honorary associates Maryam Namazie and Pragna Patel, will also be speaking there.
Religion in Public Life: A Secular Alternative
Organisers: Gloucestershire Humanists
When: Thursday, November 14, 2019, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Where: Victory Club. Burlington House Lypiatt Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 2SY
Entrance fee: Free
Sadikur Rahman from the National Secular Society will give a talk about the importance of separating faith from public life and the important campaigning work of the NSS.
Hampton Water - public meeting on new faith school proposal
Organisers: No More Faith Schools campaign
When: Thursday 28th November 2019 from 18.00 to 19.30 (Tea and biscuits available either side)
Where: Meeting Room, Friends' Meeting House, 21 Thorpe Rd, Peterborough PE3 6AB
Tickets: Free event, open to all, but with max capacity of 60
Speaker(s): Alastair Lichten NMFS campaign coordinator, others TBC
As part of our support for local residents campaigning against plans for a religiously selective Catholic faith school in Hampton Water (and for the alternative inclusive school proposal) we will be holding a public information meeting.
Talk: Richard Carlile and his legacy
Organisers: National Secular Society
When: Saturday 30th November 2019, 11:00-12:00
Where: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL
Entrance fee: Free, no booking required.
A rare opportunity to learn about the life of one of the most important figures in secularist history, with NSS historian Bob Forder.
The 1944 Education Act and its legacy
Date: Monday 10 February 2020, 19.00 (registration from 18.30)
Location: Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, WC1R 4RL
Tickets: Free but advanced booking recommended
The NSS Secular Education Forum chair Keith Sharpe's talk will look at the history of the Act, its impact and its legacy for the role of religion in state schools today.
Exploring Secularism for educators (CPD training day 2020)
Date: Saturday 9 May 2020, 11.00-15.00
Location: Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, WC1R 4RL
Tickets: Free but booking required
Let us know about an event
Is there an upcoming event you think should be on this page? If you think it would be of interest to secularists please let us know.
We particularly encourage people to get in touch with events outside of London.
-
Secularist of the Year is an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding groups and inspiring individuals advancing secularism and related human rights.
-
This annual event features a distinguished speaker exploring an aspect of secularism. Named for our founder Charles Bradlaugh MP.
-
The AGM is usually held in London in November. Members receive notification with the Autumn Bulletin and the event is added to the events page.
Other events
A selection of our past events are below. Current events are in the listing above. You can also find our past Secularist of the Year awards and Bradlaugh Lectures events on their respective pages.
- Secularism 2019: Reclaiming Religious Freedom
- Radicals, Rebels, and Revolutionaries of the 19th century (2019)
- Healthcare & Secularism Conference (2018)
- Conference on 21st Century RE for All (2018)
- Secularism 2016: Living Better Together
- The 1944 Education Act and its legacy (2020)
- Exploring Secularism for educators: CPD day (2020)
