Backing new voices to create systemic change in Bristol’s green sector

I’m proud of Bristol’s green credentials. But the city’s green sector lacks diversity and it particularly fails to include and embrace the voices and concerns of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.

As a result, Bristol’s green sector cannot speak for the whole city and cannot reflect and act in the interests of the whole city. This makes the sector less effective than it needs to be to deliver the city’s ambitious sustainability goals.

I want this to change. That’s why I’m donating to the new Black and Green Ambassadors programme for Bristol. And it’s why I’ve set up this page so that others can contribute.

The programme, being run jointly by Ujima Radio CIC and Bristol Green Capital Partnership CIC, scales up significantly a truly inspiring pilot programme which started in 2016.

I’ve seen the transformative power of this programme for myself, both for the people involved and the organisations they engage with. I was lucky enough a year ago to witness this powerful testimony and call to action from one of the two ambassadors from that pilot.

Starting in September this year, the new programme will recruit, mentor and support nine emerging leaders – the Black and Green Ambassadors. Over three years, they will work between diverse communities, businesses, organisations and individuals on issues of environmental sustainability, equality, diversity and inclusion. If it’s half as good as the pilot programme, Black and Green Ambassadors will create genuine, lasting, systemic change.

The programme has secured core funding from the National Lottery but it still needs to raise another £30-40,000 if it is going to realise its full potential and be unconstrained by money worries.

There are lots of ways that money could be raised. But I wanted to play my part by making a donation to what I know is an important and transformative programme. And by encouraging others to do the same.

I’m doing this off my own back – this is not official fundraising by Ujima Radio or Bristol Green Capital Partnership. I have liaised with them to ensure any money raised goes direct to project’s bank account where it will be reserved for the Black and Green Ambassadors Programme and under their control.

Please donate what you can. Any amount, however small, will help. Together we can help transform Bristol.

Thank you

Simon Roberts