Joining a club is about more than making new friends—it’s a chance to connect with like-minded people, have fun, and even enhance your CV.

At Queen’s, we’re proud to have over 200 clubs and societies, each with its own unique community and opportunities. In our Spotlight series, we’re delving into the stories behind these societies and meeting the passionate students who turn shared interests into something extraordinary. Whether you’re new to campus or simply looking to explore, this series promises inspiration, connection, and maybe even a little motivation to get involved.

This time, we’re chatting with Penelope ‘Penny’ Tate, Chairperson of the Inclusion Society, currently doing a Masters of Research in Social Science and Karina Dyliaeva, Vice Chairperson of the Inclusion Society, currently doing a PhD in Education. 

Can you tell us a bit about the origins of your society? When and why was it founded?  

The Inclusion Society was founded in 2020 for students seeking support and friendship during a crisis point in the UK – the COVID-19 pandemic and national lockdowns. It was created with neurodiverse, disabled and chronically ill students in mind; however, it has always welcomed all students to join and support our advocacy projects. 

Both of us reactivated the society in December 2023 after a period of being dormant (about 2 and a half years) as we were both seeking a sense of community which was absent for us at the time. We met in a shared postgraduate module, had a coffee then the rest is history! We observed a tremendous lack of spaces for neurodiverse folks, so we built one.

Some members at Freshers' Fair last year!

What values are most important to your society, and how are these reflected in your activities?

Our society is all about space. We want students to be comfortable unmasking, making friends, conquering social challenges, chilling out, you name it! Our society will always have an advocacy thread running through it because we need to better support students in general. All students would benefit from the type of adjustments we are integrating into our socials (in-person) and via our communication channels (WhatsApp and Instagram).

Who is the society open to? Are there any requirements to join?

Everyone, student or not. We take care of who comes into our society as we have created a precious space that requires protection to stay true to the authenticity of why it was started.

What are the benefits of a joining your society?

• Regular socials (consistency is really important for us and for our members)
• A welcoming community of likeminded people
• A safe place to be yourself
• Diversity of people and abilities means you always find someone to gel with. Karina and I are postgrads but we have lots of undergrads and postgrads joining us.
• Free food and fun events!

Craft and Chill Session with AHSS and Ticy Craft NI

What kind of events or activities does your society organise? Do you have any traditions?

We organise seasonal events for Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Christmas but most of our events are small and intimate with only a few members turning up. We can give people a more meaningful experience this way, so we run regular coffee catch-ups and walks to check in. That said, we also run big events in the Wee Bar such as karaoke and pub quizzes.

Our biggest tradition is Bring Your Own Hobby (BYOH) which was created by Penelope ‘Penny’ Tate as Chairperson of this society last February. It encompasses the idea of solo hobbies whilst adding a social element that isn’t pressurising. Our BYOH’s are very relaxed, taken at the pace of the members who attend. We try and remain open to anything with our socials because we don’t always know who will attend.

Valentine's Pub Quiz in the SU

How does the society stay connected outside of events? Are there online groups, newsletters, group chats?

Instagram, WhatsApp group chat and Bi-monthly emails.

Can you share a memorable event or highlight from your time in the society?

Karina: The first Bring Your Own Hobby (BYOH) Event in the Blue Sky Room on 20 February 2025 – it was our first debut as Inclusion Society, and it was a very exciting event! Also, our society has been associated with frogs as we were giving miniature 3D prints of them at the ReFresher’s Fair to promote the society. We really have a soft spot for frogs now!

Penny: Our Welcome Back Social in the Wee Bar where we put up our society banner for the first time. It signified a key moment for us both because we have self-funded a lot of our events and this was our first purchase made with grant funding that we secured last year from the Students' Union.

How has being a member (or leader) in this society shaped your time at Queen’s?

Karina: I found my friends here and the closest network. These people supported and continue to support me in my academic journey.

Penny: It has made me realise the diversity of human experiences.

What advice would you give to someone considering joining your society?

• Follow our socials
• Bring a friend to one of our events particularly if you’re nervous or shy to join
• Approach a committee member on Instagram (Penny, Karina, Lucy – our Social Media Manager) to see a familiar face when you come to events and to ask any questions you may have!

Bring Your Own Hobby (BYOH) event

What’s the best way for students interested in the society to get involved or find out more?

• Instagram – our social media is very active this year thanks to our amazing Social Media Manager Lucy Marr!
• QUB Inclusion Page on SU website - Inclusion Society
• Our stalls in the SU (we will let people know as they get organised!)

Is there anything else you’d like readers to know about the society?

Our society also runs research projects as it is led by two postgraduate students undertaking research. Karina is currently running an undergraduate project exploring accessible education with students both in workshops and then in a final report for publication aiming to reform the current systems that don’t meet the needs of a lot of disabled students. 

Penny is running a study exploring ADHD and gender presentations by exploring their close friendships in interviews. While research is important to both Karina and I, (Penny) our main aim with the society is to create safe spaces that don’t focus on disability specifically rather, they make friendship more accessible.

*Images courtesy of the Inclusion Society's Instagram page

Find out more

The Inclusion Society at Queen's

Clubs and Societies at Queen's

Zoe Brankin Staff Writer | Queen's Global Hi, I'm Zoe, and I'm proud to be part of the Queen's Global team.     Over the past six years, I've held roles that let me create content for a variety of audiences, from start-ups to larger organisations. At Queen's, I'm always exploring new and creative ways to bring fresh content ideas to our main website.   Outside of work, I love reading (I even run a local book club), spending time with my dogs, and never missing an opportunity for a coffee or brunch outing.