Our News
Join one of our webinars, events or networking sessions to support your organisation or social enterprise! We have several workshops scheduled for the coming months that you may wish to attend:
22nd April - Action Learning Group: What does it mean to be a trustee
1st May - Managing your finances
13th May - Network for your net-worth: Our next community building sector networking session
22nd May - Recruiting new trustees or directors
Expression of Interest Now Open
Are you a Black or Minoritised community leader or activist in Bristol who has been at the forefront of responding to racial injustice, community trauma, and social inequality?
BSWN is launching a new wellbeing programme, designed specifically for Black and Minoritised leaders, to create space for rest, reflection, and renewal.
In the wake of the public disorder in summer 2024, and amid a challenging political climate marked by growing economic and social inequality, many community leaders have been carrying an immense emotional, physical, and psychological burden. This initiative recognises the toll of this work and the urgent need to prioritise your wellbeing.
We are now inviting expressions of interest for “Supporting Community Wellbeing: A Retreat for Renewal”, a unique opportunity to step away from the demands of your everyday work and invest in your own rest, reflection, and renewal. This project includes:
A fully funded, 2–3-day residential retreat in July 2025
Virtual wellbeing workshops and peer support sessions
Ongoing connection with a community of leaders working across Bristol
We know that rest is resistance, and community care is vital. This programme centres your wellbeing and offers a space to reconnect, heal, and build resilience for the long road ahead.
Places are limited. Fill in the Expression of Interest form by 5pm Tuesday 27th May.
This retreat and other project activities are funded by Bristol City Council’s Community Recovery Fund. Support is available for those who may otherwise struggle to attend, including coverage for missed work or caring responsibilities. All information will be treated in confidence.
Join Just Fair & BSWN for a hybrid training masterclass on the Right to Health for Black and Racialised communities in the South West!
Join BSWN and Just Fair for an empowering session where we'll break down:
✊🏾 What the Right to Health actually means
✊🏾 How the UK is failing to meet its obligations
✊🏾 How you can use this framework to challenge injustice and demand change–from local services to government policy.
Let's turn awareness into action and reclaim the right to a healthy life for all!
Join the Bristol Law Centre and BSWN for a crucial free workshop on UK laws against Race and Religion discrimination!
Join the Discrimination team at the Bristol Law Centre and the Access to Justice Team at Black South West Network for an empowering, practical, and free workshop on how the Equality Act 2010 protects you against race and religion-based discrimination.
🔎 What You’ll Learn:
✔️ How the law protects you in employment, public services, and beyond
✔️ What you need to bring a claim and seek justice
✔️ Real-world case studies to help you apply the law in practice
What to learn more about our Access to Justice and Housing Rights workshop and upcoming plans! Check out our programme below!
Arnolfini Late: Being Here
An evening of poetry, dance and music set against the powerful backdrop of Barbara Walker’s Being Here, this special Arnolfini Late invites you to experience the exhibition through a new lens—where art, community, and live performance come together in celebration of Walker’s work.
Contributors include:
Nia Bimkubwa is a Bristol based singer, songwriter, poet and actor. As a natural performer, Nia authentically shares her love for life, nature and her culture. She is a source of inspiration and empowerment, and has grown to become a treasure within hearts across the generations of her community.
DJ Donovan of the legendary City Rockas will be playing an hour of Lovers Rock Reggae. He presents a weekly show on Ujima Radio specialising in 70s 80s 90s Soul, Funk, Rare Groove and Reggae.
South West Dance Theatre are collaborating with Bristol Breakers to create some thrilling dance theatre in response to Being Here. Throughout the evening South West Dance Theatre will be pairing classical ballet with the sizzling high octane displays from Bristol Breakers, playing with the harmonies and contrasts between the two dance styles to express what Walker’s touching and poetic artwork brings to mind.
Life drawing in motion Anna Davis from South West Dance Theatre and Kenzi Ireland from Tolo ko Tolo will be inviting audiences to join a life drawing session in the galleries bringing together ballet and African dance forms against the backdrop of Walker's work.
In the Reading Room you can join in our drop-in workshop What Belongs in an Archive? (A Workshop on Radical Memory and Community Archiving), led by artist, filmmaker and researcher Amanda Egbe with the Black South West Network, creating an opportunity for participants to explore and challenge dominant ideas of what archives are and who they serve, while creating and contributing to a living, decolonial archive made up of personal stories, community moments, protest, joy and resistance.
Local jobs, events, and opportunties
Wessex Community Action are looking to recruit 2 new members of their team: A community Development Advisor, and a Volunteering Development worker. Deadline to apply is 22nd May!
St Monica Trust are recruiting for an Innovation Co-Ordinator to join their small team (growing now that they have 43 residents signed up)! Deadline to apply is 20th May!
Philanthropy Officer
Quartet Community Foundation are seeking a Philanthropy Officer to join our small, supportive team of committed staff. You will have a commitment to building communities across the region and understanding of and commitment to philanthropy and developing strong, trusted relationships to bridge the desire to support communities with the generosity of our donors.
Gloucestershire VCSE Strategic Partnership Election nominations
The 2025 election for members of the Gloucestershire VCSE Strategic Partnership is now underway. We are looking for individuals who have big ambitions for what the VCSE sector in Gloucestershire can achieve by working together with the public sector to tackle health inequalities in our communities.
People from smaller organisations and those who work with under-represented communities are particularly encouraged to apply.
Nominations close at 5pm on Friday 30 May 2025.
If you’d like support with application, please email info@glosvcsalliance.org.uk, or fill in this form to apply.
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