Attendance at the UKSH Convention 2026 assumes you agree to abide by Manchester’s Code of Conduct. Please read it.
“This welcoming inclusive fellowship is enabled by singers’ deep respect for the wide range of beliefs and identities represented in the singing community.”
The Sacred Harp, 2025, p.17
The UK Sacred Harp Convention, Manchester 2026
Manchester Sacred Harp are delighted to host this year’s UKSH Convention. Our aim for this event is to create a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment in which to sing, reflect, share fellowship and food.
Our singing community is made up of many individuals with unique and diverse life experiences that we recognise and celebrate. Everyone participating in the UK Sacred Harp Convention 2026 should be able to do so safely and without fear of oppression or abuse.
What are the expectations of participants of the 2026 UK Sacred Harp Convention?
- To treat each other with kindness, respect and to strive for harmony.
- To respect the traditions of the shapenote singing community.
Resources regarding these traditions can be found here: Access and Attitudes; What is Sacred Harp; and FAQs - Discriminatory, disruptive, harassing, offensive or aggressive behaviour or language will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
What will happen if these expectations are not followed?
- If any individual does not behave in an appropriate manner, they may be asked to make amends through appropriate discussion with the safeguarding team and any affected participants.
- In some circumstances, an individual may be asked to leave the event and may be subject to exclusion from future events.
Please note, this code of conduct applies to the Manchester 2026 UKSH Convention only.
A UKSH Convention Code of Conduct working group will present a new draft code and their thinking at the Business Meeting on 19th September.
Safeguarding
What should you do if you witness or experience behaviour you’re uncomfortable with?
Please contact or speak to one of the members of the safeguarding team.
At the event, they will be named and their phone numbers listed on the Safeguarding sheet. On the day, the safeguarding lead and Chaplain will wear rainbow lanyards to help make them more easily identifiable.
If you’d like to email instead, please use this contact form – this goes through to one of the safeguarding team.
