Our News
Join BSWN, Housing Matters, and Bristol City Council for a series of drop-in sessions for Black and Minoritised council housing tenants!
The session will be focused on the following issues identified by minoritised communities:
Anti-Social Behaviour
Damp and Mould
HomeChoice
Repairs
Welfare Rights and Money Advice Service (WRAMAS)
BSWN will be running this session with the support of Knowle West Health Park and the Knowle West Healthy Living Centre which aims to provide a range of social and physical activities that enable the prevention of illness, promotion of good health, and recovery after medical treatment.
Join Just Fair and BSWN for a hybrid workshop to learn more about your human rights and how to (re)claim them!
This event is targeted towards Black and Racially Minoritised people who wants to learn more about human rights like housing, health, education and decent work, and what we can do to claim them. However, this workshop is open to all who want to attend! Both organisations and individuals are very welcome. No prior knowledge is required.
At this session we will explore:
What human rights are
How rights violations are impacting people and communities in our area
How human rights can be a powerful tool for change.
We know that running a community organisation serving Black and racially minoritised community members can be very isolating , BSWN is conducting a region-wide mapping initiative to locate, identify, and engage with VCSE organisations in the South West that are led by Black and Minoritised people or primarily serve Black and Minoritised communities.
In filling out this 10-minute survey, you can play a part in painting an accurate, unfiltered, and compassionate picture of the state of volunteer organisations in our region. We will be asking you to provide us your basic information, as well as information about your operations, aspirations, and struggles. Information deemed sensitive won’t be shared with anyone else and are optional!
With our findings, we hope to unify organisations in the South West by making everyone aware of the existence of the organisations that serve our communities so diligently. We also wish to highlight the real and pressing issues faced by our community organisations, with hopes that real systemic change can occur in response to these challenges.
Fill in our survey today and share it with your networks so we can connect with you on a personalised basis, understand what support and needs you have, and to provide you free-of-charge, one-to-one support on your VCSE organisation’s growth
Our Sector Development Team provides free-of-charge support to Black and Minority-led organisations on several matters, including access to funding, building business plans, skill surgeries, theories of change, governance structures, financial sustainability models, monitoring & evaluation frameworks, and more!
If you haven’t taken part yet, we welcome your views! Only together can we affect positive change!
Local jobs, events, and opportunties
Join us as we take questions from the VCSE sector directly to the West of England Mayoral candidates!
On the 1st May 2025, the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) will vote to elect a new mayor and in preparation for this a small group of VCSE organisations have organised a candidate husting on the 23rd April.
The WECA Mayor is an important role which will play a significant role in attracting and distributing funds across the region and identifying and delivering against regional priorities.
We believe the VCSE sector can play a significant role in supporting these areas, and we want to ensure the WECA Mayoral Candidates are aware of the important work we do, our understanding and connection with the communities we serve, and what is important to us as we shape the future of the region.
Please note that we will be bringing questions co-produced at VCSE sector networks across Bristol, South Gloucestershire and BANES, rather than taking individual questions.
In May 2025, Arnolfini will host the Tapestry of Black Britons, a multi-participant evolving artwork touring the UK, curated by founder and creative director Paula Ogun Hector and woven by Bristol-based textile company Dash + Miller.
The Tapestry of Black Britons aims to elevate Black British History, contributing to and amplifying an inclusive historical narrative that serves as a platform for community remembrance, whilst building awareness that Black British history is British history.
This woven artwork explores the African and Caribbean contribution to Britain from the Romans onwards, echoing the Bayeux Tapestry and incorporating Kente cloth weaving and Caribbean textiles. Individual woven panels will be uniquely created in the style of an artist, featuring portraits, seminal historical moments, protest, joy, African deities and diasporic poetic imagery. This work addresses gaps in British history, drawing attention to over 1,500 years of Black presence.
Senior Producer
Strike A Light are looking for an experienced producer to come and join us to create extraordinary events with and for the communities of Gloucester!
Contracted hours: 3 days a week (remote & office based working)
Salary: £34,000 pro rata (£20,400)
Deadline for applications: Monday 21th April, 11:59pm
Interviews will be held on 6 & 7th May
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR FREE LEGAL ADVICE?
If you do not qualify for legal aid, a solicitor may be able to take on your case as part of their pro bono work.
Pro bono work is free legal help for people who cannot afford to pay for legal services and do not qualify for legal aid. Solicitors work pro bono to help make sure everyone has access to justice when they need it. Pro bono work is voluntary and there’s no obligation to do it, although many solicitors choose to.
FINDING A PRO BONO LAWYER
LawWorks is a charity which connects lawyers with people who cannot get legal aid. It can provide free advice on issues such as:
debt
welfare rights
housing matters
employment law
consumer disputes
You’ll need to make an appointment to see a lawyer at one of LawWorks’ legal advice clinics. legal advice clinic near you
You might have to pay legal costs if you lose your case and the other party has been given professional legal help. you should discuss what costs you might have to pay with your lawyer before they start work on your case.
OTHER SOURCES OF FREE LEGAL HELP
Support Through Court is a charity which can help you if you have to go to court without a lawyer. It can:
explain how the court works
help you with forms and any documents you might need in court
help you plan what you want to say in court
provide someone to go to court with you for support
discuss settling issues without going to court
provide details of other specialist advice agencies
AdviceNow is an online advice resource run by the charity Law for Life: the Foundation for Public Legal Education.
It has practical information about your rights and the law in England and Wales on subjects such as:
going to court
employment
consumer affairs
health and social care
crime and police
housing and homelessness