Last week saw the culmination of Action for Race Equality’s one-year pilot of UPLIFT; a programme to uplift grassroots organisations led by Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage founders and directors, for the communities their organisations serve.
Through funding from City Bridge Foundation’s Anchor Programme, ARE received £1 million to run UPLIFT for over ten years to bring about real systems change in London’s grassroots sector.
The aim is to build a resilient and agile sector that is able to navigate change and come together to influence and lobby for change for our communities, to close systemic disparities that have persisted over time.
The reflection event saw ARE bring together several leaders who had taken part in the pilot to share their reflections on how the programme has helped their organisations become stronger and more resilient and to develop them as leaders to continue to build their organisations.
Building bridges within communities
A key theme that emerged in discussions at the event was the need for stronger connectivity between Leaders (often Founders) to have a network of peers that they could tap into and reach out to as a sounding board for ideas or issues, as a trusted network to consult with and seek advice and as a foundation to develop partnerships with likeminded individuals who were on a similar journey of development and growth.
Leaders who took part in UPLIFT for a year, also shared that they saw value in several of the themed masterclasses that formed the programme, including maximising use of AI tools for workplace efficiency, strengthening policy and influencing to make a real difference for your communities and fundraising and diversifying income.
The Wellbeing and therapeutic sessions provided to leaders within the programme was mentioned as an essential element of UPLIFT. Running small organisations with the challenges many are facing in today’s ever changing political and economic climate, can easily lead to burnout. Having sessions built into a capacity building programme was welcomed by all.
Support through one-to-one consultancy
By far the most successful and critical element of the UPLIFT programme as noted by those attending the event, was the one to one bespoke consultancy, delivered by culturally competent and highly experienced consultants – those that understood this sector and the barriers and challenges faced by Leaders and grassroots organisations – and could also share opportunities too.
Rommell Wallace, Director and co-founder, Serious About Youth (SAY):
The ongoing relationship with ARE is helping support and develop partnerships, bids, workshops & funding. This is something that usually takes time when done alone. The programme does what it’s meant to do – give you access.”
With twenty-one hours of support, focussed on two or three critical areas for development as identified by an in-depth conversation between leader and consultant, all of those attending said this support had made a huge difference to their organisation. For some this was a clearer fundraising strategy with increased turnover, for others it included a new website or stronger governance of their organisation.
Syed Uddin, Co-founder and Chief Executive of Leaders in the Community said;
Through UPLIFT, there is access to expert voices with lived experience. You can apply the learning in practise – it is all relevant. Rather than just being taught, you are given a roadmap to using your own resources.”
Alternatively, if you have any specific queries, please contact UPLIFT Programme Manager Nola Sterling at nola@actionforraceequality.org.uk.
