Events Upcoming events September October November Gather and Grow (50+) Programme Date: Tuesday, 1st of September (monthly) Time: 12:30-15:30 Venue: Leach Court, Park Street, Kemp Town, Brighton, BN2 0DE Our monthly sessions (for 50+) continue at Leach Court. A chance to connect and build friendships. Interested? Please contact community@bridgingchange.co.uk Rooted in Wellbeing Programme Date: Thursday, 10th of September (monthly) Time: 11:00-14:00 Venue: Plot 22 As part of the Climate for Communities programme, this monthly wellness session will be outside at Plot 22 with an opportunity to connect with nature and get support. Interested? Please contact: riw@bridgingchange.co.uk Community Voices Group: Annual Feedback meeting Programme Date: Tuesday, 15th of September Time: 18:00-19:30 Venue: Online (Zoom) Our annual feedback meeting to help decide future topics and improve CVG. Interested? Please contact hello@bridgingchange.co.uk Our Seaside, Our Community Programme Date: Tuesday, 15th of September Time: 11:00-15:00 (two sessions) Venue: Hove Lawns by the beach Join us for an inclusive day with a beach clean and talks about the climate. Interested? Please contact projects@bridgingchange.co.uk Training Programme Date: Tuesday, 15th of September Time: 10:30-12:30 Venue: Online (Zoom ) Training to evaluate, manage and overcome challenges in developing partnerships. Interested? Please contact development@bridgingchange.co.uk Gardening Session Programme Date: Thursday, 24th of September Time: 11:00-14:00 Venue: Plot 22 An outdoors session with the opportunity to learn more about nature and mindfull gardening Interested? Please contact projects@bridgingchange.co.uk Update coming soon Update coming soon

At Bridging Change we champion for racial equality for Black Racialised Minorities. Have a look at who we are, what we do and current programmes we are part of. See our latest news here Bridging Change aims to create a more equal and diverse society with positive outcomes for Black and minoritised ethnic people. We do this through the building of strong alliances, connections and networks. Upcoming events Find our upcoming events here . Programmes Bridging Change runs several community programmes to support racialised individuals, groups, organisations and communities. Ageing Well Our work with older communities, ensuring accessible support is provided Learn More UOK- Rooted in Wellbeing The aims of this project is to strengthen mental health and wellbeing support for adults Learn More Community Voices Group A community process that works to improve services and experience of our communities in our city Learn More Climate for Communities This project aims to understand the intersections of racial and environmental inequalities Learn More Training/ Infrastructure Building robust support for BRM/ BME communities to grow and thrive in the city Learn More Phoenix Community Trust This project looks at ending structural racism through investment and transformative support Learn More

Bridging Change aims to create a more equal and diverse society with positive outcomes for Black and minoritised ethnic people. We do this through the building of strong alliances, connections and networks. ABOUT BRIDGING CHANGE Bridging Change is an independent organisation with the intention of building strong, dynamic and successful Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic groups, communities, organisations, businesses and individuals that are empowered to flourish, free from inequality and discrimination. Bridging Change was established by Nora Mzaoui and Dr Anusree Biswas Sasidharan who met as fellow elected Community Works Reps, representing Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities in Brighton and Hove. They realised that there was a gap in support and representation of minoritised communities within the community, voluntary and public sector. Bridging Change want to fill that gap. They were driven by the belief that Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic organisations, groups, communities and individuals were strongest when they worked together to challenge systemic barriers. Bridging Change want to see a society where all individuals and communities have equal opportunities and feel valued and a sense of belonging in their locality. WHAT WE DO Bridging Change want to see a society where Black, Asian and minoritsed ethnic groups are able to flourish, be independent and empowered to be stronger organisations and communities. Our work falls into three main areas, building alliances, research and training. BUILDING ALLIANCES At Bridging Change we are about relationship brokerage and building up agency in Black, Asian and minoritsed ethnic groups and organisations, we do this by: facilitating spaces, events and networking meetings focusing on specific issues affecting Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities; co-producing workshops with the Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities and decision-makers to discuss, develop and design policy and recognising that social capital and agency amongst Black, Asian and minoritised groups, communities and organisations will see agents of change in our city. RESEARCH At Bridging Change, we are dedicated to ensuring that our work is evidence based, rooted on lived experience. As Bridging Change we are about: developing strong links with universities, think tanks, local organisations and councils to produce robust data and reports.; developing of a bank of resources for social action and influencing change and improving access to information and data for Black Asian and minoritised ethnic communities. FACILITATING CHANGE We do this by: working with organisations to create change, provide critical reflection and co-design programmes with communities creating bespoke training for Black Asian and minoritised ethnic groups to address topics or areas of interest and value providing bespoke equalities, diversity and inclusion training that is sector specific to support allies to examine their practices within their groups and organisations CONTACT BRIDGING CHANGE bridgingchange@outlook.com

Infrastructure Past newsletters More can be found about May's newsletter here ! More can be found about March's newsletter here. More can be found about December's newsletter here. More can be found about May's newsletter here. More can be found about July's newsletter here . Please see more about the BRM Network Newsletter for October 2025 here .

Other partnerships Introduction Soon to be updated.

Resources Newsletter Newsletter Newsletter Newsletter Discover our May 2026 newsletter here ! For past newsletters, click here . Discover how we’re making an impact. Listen to our thought-provoking podcasts , read our latest reports , and stay informed about upcoming events and news .

About us ABOUT BRIDGING CHANGE Bridging Change is an independent organisation with the intention of building strong, dynamic and successful Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic groups, communities, organisations, businesses and individuals that are empowered to flourish, free from inequality and discrimination. Bridging Change was established by Nora Mzaoui and Dr Anusree Biswas Sasidharan who met as fellow elected Community Works Reps, representing Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities in Brighton and Hove. They realised that there was a gap in support and representation of minoritised communities within the community, voluntary and public sector. Bridging Change want to fill that gap. They were driven by the belief that Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic organisations, groups, communities and individuals were strongest when they worked together to challenge systemic barriers. Bridging Change want to see a society where all individuals and communities have equal opportunities and feel valued and a sense of belonging in their locality. What we do BUILDING ALLIANCES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT At Bridging Change we are about relationship brokerage and building up agency in minoritised ethnic groups and organisations. We do this by: facilitating spaces, events and networking meetings focusing on specific issues affecting Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities; co-producing workshops with the Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities and decision-makers to discuss, develop and design policy and recognising that social capital and agency amongst minoritised groups, communities and organisations will see agents of change in our city. RESEARCH At Bridging Change, we are dedicated to ensuring that our work is evidence based, rooted on lived experience. At Bridging Change we are about: developing strong links with universities, think tanks and local organisations to produce robust data and reports; developing of a bank of resources for social action and influencing change and improving access to information and data for Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities. TRAINING & WORKSHOPS We do this by: creating bespoke training for minoritised ethnic groups to address topics or areas of interest and value providing bespoke equalities, diversity and inclusion training that is sector specific to support allies to examine their practices within their groups and organisations

Infrastructure Governance Responsibilities of the Management Committee Roles of Officers (also available in Arabic ) Legal structures for community and voluntary groups Constitutions Charity Reporting and Accounts

BME Infrastructure The report from the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities has been deeply disappointing. This report after reflecting on the impact of education, community, health (including COVID-19), employment, crime and policing on minoritised ethnic people concluded that institutional racism does not exist. Bridging Change strongly disagrees with the validity of the findings, its conclusions and the "changing the narrative" motivation which has sought to undermine the experience of racism of minoritised ethnic people in Britain. Whilst reading the report we have chosen not to make a detailed response at this time, as the problematic framing of issues in the report are too extensive to broach here. However, this response will draw on a few of the report's findings. In every area the Commission examined disparity, they constructed imaginative ways to excuse racial or ethnic disparity, suggesting instead that they were due to factors such as: . . . living in a densely populated inner-city area, socio-demographic characteristics (deprivation and occupation) living in larger and multi-generational households. The report also blames poorer outcomes for Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic people with: poor and/or lone parenting; co-morbidities; counting methods or simply not liking the numbers. The report, for example, describes stop and search figures from Devon (where there are lower numbers of Black and Asian minoritised ethnic people, specifically Black people) as 'skewed' - but the fact remains, not liking the odds does not diminish simple mathematics. Suggesting that the 'national relative rate is not always accurate' at measuring stop and search rates is problematic, it appears in this report 'not always accurate' refers to when facts do not suit the Government's narrative. Whilst the report acknowledges the disparity of maternal deaths for Black (5 times higher) and Asian (2 times higher), it calls for using absolute numbers, as not to do so was 'unfair to expectant mothers everywhere'. Previous commentary have contextualised the figures in terms of per 100,000, in absolute numbers and/or disparity is attempted to diminish the significance and importance of disparity. It does not change the fact the Black women are 5 times more likely to die in childbirth compared to white women; Asian and mixed heritage women are almost 2 times likely more likely to die in childbirth than white women. Further, disparity in maternal health is symptomatic of negative outcomes faced by men, women and children from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic groups, particularly those minoritised ethnic people who are not white. Using the highly divisive stereotype of 'model minority' as if this was an antidote to racism is a privileged and uninformed construction of meritocracy. This 'model minority' construction was pitted against other minoritised ethnic people who were constructed as living with family breakdown, being unprepared and demotivated to succeed, as were 'attitudes to integrate'. Both stereotypes are equally damaging in suggesting that one group of minoritised ethnic people are hapless whilst the other minoritised ethnic group simply floats through British life without barriers or experiencing racism. Outrageous still is the polling by British Future for the Commission who heralded their poll as 'encouraging' around perceptions on anti-Black prejudice, which asked respondents if they 'saw a lot' of prejudice against Black people. They asked people who were not Black if there were increased level of prejudice for Black people. The only people who can credibly pass comment on the Black experience of racism is Black people , how can any other ethnic group assume to know how racism is experienced by another ethnic group? The report is constantly looking for creative adjustments, reframing, excusing and attempting to undermine disparity for Black and Asian minoritised ethnic people. The report is outrageous in its findings, in its bid to 'change the narrative' and to conclude that institutional racism does not exist is astonishingly inaccurate, premised on creative, misleading evidence and lack academic rigour. At Bridging Change we will focus on the reality of instititional and systemic racism and move away from the Commission's misleading conclusion in its attempt to 'change the narrative'. We want to reclaim the narrative which acknowledges the impact of the 'hostile environment' and the disproportionately negative impact and outcomes for Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic people in the the UK.

Events & News Bridging Change are reflecting on the issues that impact Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic people in Brighton and Hove. Here you will find news, events we are organising as well as featured articles, publications and reports. Join our team: PROJECT DEVELOPMENT WORKER for Brighton and Hove Black and Minoritised Ethnic Infrastructure Network Do you share a vision of a ‘by and for’ BME infrastructure for BME community groups and organisations in B&H? We are looking to recruit a worker who has a passion and commitment for building on this vision. The Project Development Worker will develop a BME infrastructure network to ensure BME groups and organisations can become sustainable, thrive and become more resilient by building on their strengths and skills as well as tackling the needs and gaps identified. To apply please complete the application form and Equality and Diversity monitoring form and send it to bridgingchange@outlook.com by 5pm on 21st January 2025 . Please note: there has been an amendment to the salary banding for this post. Project Development Worker Job Description Application form Equality and Diversity monitoring form Join our team: PROJECT SUPPORT WORKER for Brighton and Hove Black and Minoritised Ethnic Infrastructure Network Do you share a vision of a ‘by and for’ BME infrastructure for BME community groups and organisations in B&H? We are looking to recruit a worker who has the skills, passion and commitment in supporting the project development worker in the development of a BME infrastructure network. To apply please complete the application form and Equality and Diversity monitoring form and send it to bridgingchange@outlook.com by 5pm on 21st January 2025 . Please note: there has been an amendment to the salary banding for this post. Project Support Worker Job Description Application form Equality and Diversity monitoring form VCSE Alliance Newsletter July 2024 Bridging Change's very own Dr Anusree Biswas Sasidharan features in the July 2024 issue of the VCSE Alliance Newsletter. Read the newsletter here. Community Voices Group Upcoming meetings: Wednesday 22nd January 2025 Topic: Older People's Health and Wellbeing See the flyer here Bridging Change, in partnership with the Hangleton and Knoll Project, Sussex Interpreting Services and the Trust for Developing Communities, invites you be part of the Community Voices Group, please click here for more information. We also have this information in different languages, please contact us directly about this. Please email hellobridgingchange@outlook.com for more information . Sewell Report Runnymede Responds Runnymede hosted a snap event to discuss the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities' findings and why it has failed to address structural and institutional racism in the UK. If you missed it, catch it on YouTube Bridging Change Opinion Read Bridging Change's response to the Sewell Report here. Brighton and Hove becoming an anti-racist city The council has pledged to be an anti-racist council. Brighton and Hove City Council has said that they will work in partnership with Black and Minority Ethnic people including council staff, residents and community groups to directly shape our anti-racism strategy through their lived experiences and diverse perspectives. You can find out more from their website .

Community Voices Group What is CVG? What is CVG? What is CVG? What is CVG? Community Voices Group Do you identify as Black, brown, Asian or from another language, ethnic or migrant community? Do you want to improve how public services are delivered locally? Do you want the chance to speak directly to representatives from the Council and NHS and get your voice heard? Members of the group attend meetings as individuals or as representatives of a community group they belong to. We meet monthly, either online or in-person, to discuss issues that matter to us and to talk to representatives from Brighton and Hove Council and NHS Sussex about how they can be delivered. Meetings Meetings Meetings Meetings CVG Meeting Update If you are from a Black and Racialised Minority group living in Brighton and Hove, Community Voices Group is for YOU. Our April meeting is the start of our Adult Social Care topic where you can speak about your experiences and issues in a safe space with other community members. To join - contact Beth Harrison at hello@bridgingchange.co.uk We look forward to seeing you there Reports Reports Reports Reports Decision makers (September, 2025) A report outlining how CVG works for Decision makers in the Council and NHS Read the report here. Bridging Change NHS Workshop (November, 2023) Bridging Change was awarded a grant by NHS Sussex to deliver a face-to-face, 2.5-hour workshop in November 2023 with racialised minority communities based in Brighton and Hove. The event's aims were two-fold: to close the community engagement loop by feeding back to communities and to engage with the local communities. Read the report here. Community Voices (October, 2024) Read the October 2024 report on CVG, which outlines our achievements, feedback from our members and the next steps. Read the report here. Become a CVG member Become a CVG member Become a CVG member Become a CVG member Interested in joining us? Contact Beth Harrison at Bridging Change, email: hello@bridgingchange.co.uk If you do not speak English and would like to be involved, email: laura@sussexinterpreting.org.uk or call 01273 234016 and leave a message in your language

Upcoming events Event Title Event Time Event Date Change the event description to include your own content. Adjust the settings to customize the style. September 2026 MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN ❗️ Standing Together as One ❗️ You will have seen how local elections in the UK have shown a stronger voice towards far right. Although they might not get a huge vote in Brighton, it seems like the next local elections on June 25th will see more far right voices trying to influence elections. We would like to hold this event in response to the increase in racism, Islamophobia, far-right organising and attacks targeting racialised communities, including the racist far-right march planned in Brighton and Hove on 13 June. Bridging Change has also invited Brighton and Hove Racial Harassment Forum to talk about reporting options, support services and wellbeing strategies when faced with hate incidents and hate crime. We hope this to be a starting space for racialised communities to be heard, build unity in the community and leave feeling more connected, supported and empowered. For more information, contact: development@bridgingchange.co.uk