Every year, Black South West Network’s team and wider membership gather for our Annual General Meeting, a much-needed space to share our progress, our achievements, and to reflect upon changes in the South West and what it means for the communities we faithfully serve. This year was no different with our choice of venue being the newly-built EQ Bristol building.
The year of 2024 was nothing short of tumultuous. From a general election that shifted the political compass, to drastic changes to Bristol’s City Council system, to the disordered and racist riots that brewed in several parts of the United Kingdom, there was much to reflect upon this AGM. The Director of BSWN, Sado Jirde, hoped that this year’s meeting could be used to not only reckon with the events of the past year, but to formulate together ways in which we can thrive in such a rapidly changing and evolving environment like the one in which we live in now.
As such, prominent figures in the VCSE sector as well as in local government were invited to speak on a panel with Sado Jirde to discuss this particular topic, gathering their numerous experiences and expertise to help inform the BSWN’s membership of what we can do – collectively – to improve movements towards achieving racial justice in our lifetime. We were incredibly lucky to have had the following individuals take part in this thrilling conversation:
Jeremy Crook OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Action for Race Equality
Shane Ryan MBE, Senior Adviser for the National Lottery Community Fund
Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council
Bilal Hussain, Head of Engagement at the Runnymede Trust
A vast majority of the panel conversation, facilitated by BSWN Associate Rob Mitchell, focussed on the topic of assets and asset ownership. According to research that was presented at the AGM by Project Officer Japheth (Jeff) Monzon, racial justice organisations in the South West of England remain asset-poor, with only 9% of organisations surveyed so far having ownership of a building and an additional 3% having ownership of assets like land or a motorised vehicle. With this foregrounding the conversation, the topic of assets remained prominent and reflected the importance of physical spaces for racialised communities in our region that so often feel socially and culturally excluded from non-racialised communities. Whilst aspiring towards the ownership of assets is something encouraged and facilitated by BSWN and our Community Development team, Sado Jirde also emphasises that ownership of an asset can become both a privilege and a burden – especially in cases where the physical asset requires constant upkeep and maintenance.
Alongside the panel conversation were also numerous presentations sharing the work done by BSWN in the past year. Claire Miller, Associate Architect at Askew Cavanna Architects, presented the highly anticipated plans for the refurbishment of the Coach House that will reinvent the building from its current state into a cultural hub for Black and racialised folk throughout the South West region. Following these exciting developments shared by Claire was a presentation outlining the preliminary findings of BSWN’s newest research project: ‘The State of Racial Justice Organisations in the South West’. This research project aims to better understand the challenges and aspirations held by racial justice organisations in the region which will enable BSWN to provide bespoke and targeted interventions that will support organisations in ways that are effective and desired by community members.
Perhaps the most evocative moments of the AGM were those that displayed the heart and soul of BSWN, with Director Sado Jirde sharing her heartfelt gratitude to members of the BSWN team, the Board of Trustees, and the countless members of our communities that have showed up and supported the work we do. One attendee that has been supported by BSWN in her entrepreneurial pursuits moved the team to tears, stating that “BSWN is all that [they] have” when it comes to support that is truly community-focused and centred on the experiences of those that are Black and Racialised. Reflecting on this powerful statement, the BSWN team shared that it is moments like these that remind us that the work we do is worth it.
The BSWN Team sends its special thanks to the Siddiqui Media for supporting the event with photography and filming, Marti Burgess, and the EQ Bristol team for venue support.
We wish you all a happy holiday season and a festive new year!
