PRESS RELEASE - March 2022
Do it Now Now’s Centre Black Releases the UK Voluntary Sector’s First Report on Lived Experiences of Staff at Black-led impact Organisation
Centre Black is a ground-breaking research centre committed to the production of high-quality research and advocacy that centres the experiences of Black people across the UK. Also hosted by social-impact organisation Do it Now Now, Centre Black applies academic rigour to subjects of concern within the Black community, while empowering leaders within the community to contribute to the research and outputs of the centre.
In 2022 the research centre conducted a study which explores the lived experience of management and staff at Black-led impact organisations within the UK’s voluntary sector. It is clear that Black-led impact organisations operate in an environment of structural inequalities but without this report many of these inequalities are still under-reported and undermined.
The report found that Black-led impact organisations with majority Black* staff and management have personal experience of the challenges and issues they are looking to resolve in their local communities. The lived experiences of Black staff and management helps establish trust and better support their local communities which is reflected in the key outcomes of these organisations. However the report also found that Black-led impact organisations have largely negative experiences with funders with little or no consideration given to their experiences or insights. Many of the Black-led organisations featured in the report believe that the involvement process is tokenistic with funders placing little value on lived experience.
'This report outlines the growing disconnect between mainstream funders, local authorities and local service providers. It stands to highlight the important role intermediary funders like Common Call play as connectors between leaders with lived experience and mainstream funders. When this work is done well, impact at the grassroots level is assured.' - Bayo Adelaja, Do it Now Now CEO
The report makes eight key recommendations to funders and the wider voluntary sector community which includes placing more value on the lived experience of impact organisations and encouraging Black-led impact organisations to build stronger relationships with local MPs and councillors. This is a ground-breaking report which aims to make a tangible difference within the voluntary sector space in the UK.
In 2022 the research centre conducted a study which explores the lived experience of management and staff at Black-led impact organisations within the UK’s voluntary sector. It is clear that Black-led impact organisations operate in an environment of structural inequalities but without this report many of these inequalities are still under-reported and undermined.
The report found that Black-led impact organisations with majority Black* staff and management have personal experience of the challenges and issues they are looking to resolve in their local communities. The lived experiences of Black staff and management helps establish trust and better support their local communities which is reflected in the key outcomes of these organisations. However the report also found that Black-led impact organisations have largely negative experiences with funders with little or no consideration given to their experiences or insights. Many of the Black-led organisations featured in the report believe that the involvement process is tokenistic with funders placing little value on lived experience.
'This report outlines the growing disconnect between mainstream funders, local authorities and local service providers. It stands to highlight the important role intermediary funders like Common Call play as connectors between leaders with lived experience and mainstream funders. When this work is done well, impact at the grassroots level is assured.' - Bayo Adelaja, Do it Now Now CEO
The report makes eight key recommendations to funders and the wider voluntary sector community which includes placing more value on the lived experience of impact organisations and encouraging Black-led impact organisations to build stronger relationships with local MPs and councillors. This is a ground-breaking report which aims to make a tangible difference within the voluntary sector space in the UK.
Notes to editor
Visit Centre Black to read the full report.
For more information and interview requests:
Contact Kojo Apeagyei, Head of Brand and Marketing - [email protected]
About Do it Now Now
We work with clients to create opportunities for Black people to receive the tools and resources they need to develop their communities through social activism and enterprise.
Launched in 2016, Do it Now Now has become an influential organisation in the Diversity and Inclusion and Entrepreneurship support community in the UK, Europe and across Africa.
Bayo Adelaja is the founder and CEO of Do it Now Now; which she founded in 2016 in response to gaps in the support available to Black innovators building tech companies and social enterprises in the UK and across Africa. The initiatives Bayo developed for Do it Now Now have led to awards by both Harvard University and Oxford University's Business Schools for her work to create and foster opportunities for under-served communities through technology. 3 communities/initiatives she designed to support underrepresented people in tech, were named "Top in Europe" by FT-backed digital news platform, Sifted.
*Black being defined as those with African and Caribbean ethnicity or mixed with Black
Visit Centre Black to read the full report.
For more information and interview requests:
Contact Kojo Apeagyei, Head of Brand and Marketing - [email protected]
About Do it Now Now
We work with clients to create opportunities for Black people to receive the tools and resources they need to develop their communities through social activism and enterprise.
Launched in 2016, Do it Now Now has become an influential organisation in the Diversity and Inclusion and Entrepreneurship support community in the UK, Europe and across Africa.
Bayo Adelaja is the founder and CEO of Do it Now Now; which she founded in 2016 in response to gaps in the support available to Black innovators building tech companies and social enterprises in the UK and across Africa. The initiatives Bayo developed for Do it Now Now have led to awards by both Harvard University and Oxford University's Business Schools for her work to create and foster opportunities for under-served communities through technology. 3 communities/initiatives she designed to support underrepresented people in tech, were named "Top in Europe" by FT-backed digital news platform, Sifted.
*Black being defined as those with African and Caribbean ethnicity or mixed with Black