On Tuesday the 12th of December we hosted our Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2023 and an engaging discussion on Race and Philanthropy at the Watershed, Bristol. Attendees were welcomed into the venue with a buffet style spread of food and beautiful Palestinian music from local musician Sara Alshaikhly. The AGM kicked off with a warm welcome from our Event Host and Creative Producer , Rob Mitchell, who read 'If I Must Die,' written by the late Palestinian Writer Refaat Alareer, who was tragically killed in an airstrike in Gaza City a week ago. To pay our respects, we held a moments of silence.
© Naomi Williams 2023 | Photos taken at BSWN AGM 2023 - Photo above of Palestinian Musician, Sara Alshaikhly.
Following this, our Board Chair, Marti Burgess, and Finance Manager, Mark Hitchins, formally opened the AGM proceedings and guided us through the financial performance and trustee report. Subsequently, members were invited to share any questions to the board. Our Director, Sado Jirde then shared our 2022/2023 impact, approach, and outlined the next steps moving forward, including our plans for the Coach House and the finalisation of a 125-year peppercorn lease, submission of the planning permission application for refurbishment, development of a Full Business Case and beginning Phase 1 refurbishment once the planning permission is approved.
We gave a big round of applause to our partners, funders, and members who are at the heart of our work, before sharing our Investing in Black Tech video, produced for us by the fantastic Siddiqui Media as an example of the fortitude of the incredible entrepreneurs we support.
© Naomi Williams 2023 | Photos taken at BSWN AGM 2023 - Photo of Sado Jirde, BSWN Director.
““Our goal is to build more long-term sustainable programmes. We have been able to secure investment from different sources to build towards this, but key challenges still remain for Black-led businesses in their access to finance…””
After the presentation, Rob invited our esteemed panellist Abdou Sidibe, Director of Grants at the Paul Hamlyn Foundation; Nelly Koko-Konan, Proactive Programmes Manager at The Clothworkers’ Foundation; and Ali Torabi, a knowledgeable Campaigning and Philanthropy Advisor, to join him for an engaging and informative panel discussion focussed on Race & Philanthropy and what has changed since 2020.
© Naomi Williams 2023 | Photos taken at BSWN AGM 2023 - Panel (left to right) Rob Mitchell, Nelly Koko-Konan, Abdou Sidibe, and Ali Torabi.
Throughout the discussion, the panellists provided valuable perspectives, aligning with BSWN's overall objectives. They highlighted the unhelpful nature of existing laws and policies in supporting Black and Minoritised VCSE organisations.
“That consciousness around what you look like as an organisation should be reflective in terms of who you want to reach...Impact investing…recognising the lack of access to finance for Black-led organisations…how do you grow/sustain those initiatives.”
© Naomi Williams 2023 | Photos taken at BSWN AGM 2023 - Photo (left to right), Rob Mitchell, Abdou Sidibe, Nelly Koko-Konan, and Ali Torabi.
This discussion provided an opportunity to gain insight into the relationship between the policy landscape and philanthropy in the racial justice sector. The atmosphere was lively, with numerous questions raised by an engaged audience. A particular attendee asked about how policies, law, and regulations have impacted the funding provided to organisations serving racially minoritised communities—specifically, has it helped or hindered the work? In response, our panellists shared views similar to those held by BSWN, noting that law and policy have been generally unhelpful in supporting Black and Minoritised VCSE organisations. They emphasised that discriminatory policies are becoming more frequent in British politics. What is needed, they stressed, is a structural change that allows for the flourishing of VCSE organisations through sustainable and collaborative practices.
“It’s not just a question of what is being written but who is reading it…the role of the foundations is if you have assets and resources to support those who need it in the community…”
© Naomi Williams 2023 | Photos taken at BSWN AGM 2023 - Photo (left to right), Abdou Sidibe, Nelly Koko-Konan, and Ali Torabi.
“The conversation is starting in a practical tangible way…what I’m interested in is changing the governance…”
We would like to extend a big thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of our 2023 AGM — from our engaged audience, members, dedicated staff, and insightful panellists. Your active participation and thought-provoking questions enriched the dialogue on Race and Philanthropy. As we reflect on the impactful discussions and insights shared, we invite you to read our Impact Report.