It is clear how ethnic disparities within the labour market are linked to other disparities in policy such as housing, and influenced by national crises such as the cost of living crisis. Issues within the labour market leads to wage disparity between minoritised communities and their White counterparts.
The Telling Stories event on 22nd November 2022, was a powerful, social and introspective conversation about the art of storytelling. I know this because I was there. It asked critical questions that were extremely thought-provoking about how the UnMuseum project (as it stands today with this name) will tell stories. But it was also a general conversation for storytellers in all modes and forms, as well as an educational one.
It is clear how ethnic disparities within the labour market are linked to other disparities in policy such as housing, and influenced by national crises such as the cost of living crisis. Issues within the labour market leads to wage disparity between minoritised communities and their White counterparts.
BSWN’s ‘Make It Work’ Programme Achieves a Staggering £377k increase in Economic Benefit for the Black & Minoritised Adult Social Care Sector in Bristol On Friday 9th June, Black South West Network (BSWN) was joined by approximately 30 key strategic stakeholders at Bristol City Hall for the official launch of the ‘Make it Work’ programme’s Learning & Evaluation Report.
BSWN is pleased to announce the launch of a 3-month pilot initiative aimed at tackling food poverty in Black and Minoritised communities. This pilot has been developed in partnership with Jikoni at the Coach House CIC. Both BSWN and Jikoni are situated at the Coach House in St. Paul’s, with existing kitchen facilities in the café for preparation of hot meals for the Food hub project pilot.
The arrival of the Bibby Stockholm at Dorset’s Portland Port marks the South West as its most recent global destination. Founded in 1976 in Barbados, the Bibby Stockholm has had a lengthy history with the accommodation of people. From housing the homeless and asylum seekers in Hamburg, Germany, to detaining asylum seekers in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, the Bibby Stockholm continues this trend in Dorset.
On Thursday the 6th of July we hosted an ,’Investing in Black Tech’ event at Burges Salmon located in central Bristol. This event was to showcase six of our talented Black & Minoritised tech entrepreneurs from the Transforming Business for the Tech Future Programme. They were given the opportunity to deliver a compelling 60-second pitch to a panel of investors, to compete for a cash prize of £5,000.
The Bristol Living Rent Commission was created in 2022 to investigate how to make Bristol a “living rent city.” The report is an investigation into the private rental sector in Bristol and rent control measures, concluding with 29 recommendations including engaging the government on a national rent control system and devolving powers to the city-level to control rents. BSWN contributed written evidence on ethnic disparities within the private rental sector to the Commission.
On the 18th of June, 2023, The Times reported on the Government’s purported plans to unveil more restrictive rules on social housing allocation. The article, entitled “Britons ‘to be priority (sic) on council house lists’” outlines ministerial concerns regarding the inordinate waiting times experienced by more than a million households patiently waiting for social housing (The Times 2023).
This Windrush75 week, BSWN is highlighting the different experiences of Caribbean post-war migrants, and celebrating the contributions they have made to Bristol and the UK. Today we share two poems written by Ros Martin, a Bristol-based writer, artist and author of “BEFORE I AM RENDERED INVISIBLE: Resistance from the Margins”.
Anndeloris Chacon, CEO of Bristol Black Carers, reflects on the Windrush Era in today’s special blog as part of our Windrush75 week series highlighting the different experiences of Caribbean post-war migrants, and celebrating the contributions they have made to Bristol and the UK.
Image source: Good Grief
On the 19th of June, 2023, Home Secretary Suella Braverman informed all police forces in England and Wales to “ramp up” the use of stop and search powers in efforts to stop knife crime and the “dangerous culture” of carrying weapons. This is a concerning development from the Home Secretary, when the disproportionate use of Stop and Search on minoritised communities has been well documented. Photograph: Steve Phillips/Alamy
On the 16th of June, 2023, Chief Constable Sarah Crew of the Avon & Somerset Police characterised the Avon & Somerset Police as “institutionally racist.” (Avon & Somerset Police, 2023) This conclusion was reached through tests and definitions established through decades of advocacy against racial discrimination in policing. This statement, having come from such a senior position, is a welcome addition to the fight against systemic racial injustice in the United Kingdom
The Telling Stories event on 22nd November 2022, was a powerful, social and introspective conversation about the art of storytelling. I know this because I was there. It asked critical questions that were extremely thought-provoking about how the UnMuseum project (as it stands today with this name) will tell stories. But it was also a general conversation for storytellers in all modes and forms, as well as an educational one.
The Cost-of-Living Crisis in Gloucester and the South West of England has had a severe impact on residents' health, access to healthcare, and overall quality of life. The research conducted by Money Expert and BSWN highlights the stark reality of the issue, with rent increases, salary decreases, and reliance on food banks becoming commonplace. The rising costs of living and inequalities in healthcare access have led to major health disparities, particularly for Black and Minoritised communities.
In this week of representation, inclusion, and workplace equality, remember to uplift Black voices, Black minds, and Black excellence in all its forms; advocate for a fair and just society for all, and remember that this work doesn’t stop at the end of the Week. BSWN is proud to spotlight Black leaders and share their perspectives on what inclusion truly means. Join us in this important mission and help create a more equitable world, not just for today or this week, but for the future.
BSWN recognises that the United Kingdom has many steps to take before it is a racially just society. CODE’s Evidence for Equality National Survey (EVENS) report, juxtaposed against previous reports on Racial Inequality, is unabashed in its claim that racism extends past singular, isolated instances of individual choice.
