BSWN: Black South West Network

22/06/2026

This Windrush Day, we celebrate and honour the people of the Windrush generation and their descendants, whose resilience, labour, and culture have shaped Britain in countless ways.

From building the NHS to strengthening communities across the country, their contributions are woven into our shared history. Today, we recognise not only their achievements, but their stories, their strength, and their enduring legacy.

While often framed through resilience and contribution, there is no single Windrush story. Through The UnMuseum, we have heard powerful testimonies —stories that hold joy, hardship, and everything in between.

Join us for our UnMuseum event 'Changes in Waves' an evening of music, storytelling, film, and community voices celebrating Windrush heritage, memory, and belonging. Come along and share your story, contribute to our community map, and connect over food and conversation!

🔗 Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/arts-diverse-city-presents-changes-in-waves-2026-windrush-celebration-tickets-1991758761071?aff=oddtdtcreator

Photo credit: Christelle Pellecuer

19/06/2026

🌊 Changes in Waves: Windrush 2026

Your Story. Our Heritage.

The UnMuseum is proud to host an evening of music, storytelling, film, and community voices celebrating Windrush heritage, memory, and belonging at the All Nations Community Centre in Gloucester.

You're invited into the De Front Room, share your story for The UnMuseum archive, add to our community map, and connect over food and conversation.

Whether your family came with the Windrush generation or you're simply drawn to these histories, there's a place for you and your story here.

📍 All Nations Community Centre, Gloucester
🗓 Sat 27 June, doors 6pm
Hosted by Arts Diverse-City cic & The UnMuseum

Register here: https://ow.ly/U16j50ZcFec

18/06/2026

📢 New Report Launch! 📢

Beyond Survival: Mapping The Experiences of Black & Racially Minoritised Organisations in the South West

We’re excited to share our latest research exploring the realities of VCSE organisations working with Black and Racially Minoritised communities across the South West, centring the voices of those doing the work on the ground.

What we found:
• Organisations are overstretched and underfunded
• Systems aren’t built for grassroots groups
• Communities continue to face deep structural inequalities
• Yet, there is resilience, innovation, and huge potential

What’s needed now?:
• Fairer, accessible funding
• Stronger partnerships
• Investment in community spaces
• Real power-sharing
• Place-based solutions

This isn’t new, but it is urgent. The sector doesn’t just need support; it needs sustained investment to thrive.

🔗 Read the full report here: https://ow.ly/gVqm50ZcGGa

16/06/2026

📢 Call for Participation: Join the Ongoza Circle!

The Maendeleo Project by Black South West Network is looking for steering group members to help guide its next phase. This 3-year programme supports grassroots, socially transformative change led by African Caribbean communities in Bristol.

What you’ll get:
- Learning & development (coaching, mentoring, reparatory justice)
- Access to BSWN leadership programmes
- Reference or LinkedIn recommendation
- Stipend for regular participation

What we’re looking for:
- Lived experience of African Caribbean communities
- Commitment to a monthly 2-hour meeting
- Willingness to share insights, learn, and collaborate

If you want to help shape the future of community-led change, register your interest here: https://ow.ly/3AW150ZckBB

12/06/2026

Call for Guidance! Call for Participation!

The Maendeleo Project is looking for steering group (Ongoza Circle) members. We meet for 2 hours once a month.

The Maendeleo Project aims to champion and invest in a growth of grassroots and socially transformative change chosen by African Caribbean communities in Bristol in a 3 year Programme.

In return we offer:
· Access to learning and development opportunities within the Ongoza Circle particularly around, coaching, mentoring and ovastanding reparatory justice vis a vis Afrikan Heritage Communities
· Access to BSWN's Leadership and any other relevant programmes
· A Stipend for attending consecutive meetings (as a way of building consistency and valuing your contributions)

Closing Date: 30th June

Find out more and apply here: https://www.blacksouthwestnetwork.org/the-maendeleo-project

11/06/2026

We are delighted to share that Black South West Network has been awarded ten years of funding through The National Lottery Community Fund’s Solidarity Fund. This is a landmark moment, not just for BSWN, but for the communities and organisations we exist to serve.

Today we announce almost £60 million in grants to help tackle the root causes of poverty, disadvantage and discrimination in communities across England, for up to ten years.

These 13 awards, the first from our Solidarity Fund, are our latest commitment to addressing inequity and inequality – targeting communities where people feel least listened to and in control.

One of the organisations receiving funding from the Solidarity Fund is The Black South West Network (BSWN) based in Bristol. Sado Jirde, CEO of BSWN, said: “BSWN has a long track record of supporting community-led change across the South West, and we know that tackling racial inequality requires sustained, long term investment. This funding is significant – not only for BSWN, but for the communities and organisations we work alongside.

“Support from The National Lottery Community Fund through The Solidarity Fund demonstrates a commitment to addressing inequality and backing community led solutions. We are committed to making the most of this opportunity, and to being accountable, not just to The National Lottery Community Fund, but to the communities whose futures this work is in service of.”

At The National Lottery Community Fund, we’re refocusing our efforts. Shifting from funding community projects to community power. So that, together, we can create a stronger, more inclusive and fairer society. For everyone.

Read more about the Solidarity Fund here: https://ow.ly/FVBz50Zakju

10/06/2026

We were delighted to launch our Access to Nature Community Pilot research report at the Bristol Distinguished Address Series as part of the Festival of Nature, exploring how we can make forest creation inclusive and accessible to communities.

Developed in partnership with Forest of Avon, Western Forest, Green Action, and BSWN, this pilot project looks to deepen our understanding of the barriers that are stopping Black and Racially Minoritised people's engagement with nature-based events and activities.

At BSWN, we believe that access to clean air and nature is a human right—essential for our physical and mental wellbeing. But achieving this means centring equity, ensuring that all communities can benefit from greener, healthier and inclusive spaces 🌍✨

Read the full report here: https://ow.ly/hO4x50Z8Njt

08/06/2026

Last week, we joined Heal Somerset in Frome for their Into the Light Festival. It was incredibly inspiring to learn about rewilding projects in the region and to see what can happen when we support natural processes to flourish particularly the power and opportunities our rivers and wetlands offer to sustain these ecosystems.

A powerful message shared at the event was that rewilding projects are “growing food for wildlife, so that we can grow food elsewhere.” This was clearly evident in the abundance of wildlife thriving on site.

We are excited to continue learning and to work with initiatives across the region to improve access to nature for our communities.

06/06/2026

BSWN is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Kanya King CBE, founder of the MOBO Awards, whose visionary work transformed the landscape of Black British music and culture. Her legacy underscores the vital importance of building our own platforms, creating space where Black creativity can be seen, valued, and celebrated on its own terms. Through projects like the UnMuseum, we carry that conviction forward - that Black communities must be the authors of their own cultural story.

05/06/2026

🌍 A Green City, But for Whom?

Bristol may lead on climate action, but environmental inequality is still a reality. From its industrial past to today’s heatwaves, access to clean air, green spaces, and cooler neighbourhoods is shaped by who you are and where you live.

Communities contributing the least to environmental harm often face the greatest risks, such as higher pollution, fewer green spaces, and more extreme heat.

At BSWN, we believe that nature should be for everyone. This , let’s recognise that climate justice is social justice. A greener city must also be a fairer one.

Read our full blog by our Environmental Policy Officer, Jah Caballero, here: https://www.blacksouthwestnetwork.org/blog/a-green-city-but-for-whom