Last week was the R.E.A.C.H Power to Purpose event. We were joined by leaders from the BAME voluntary and community groups, along with key decision-makers from Southwark Council, Partnership Southwark, Public Health, and SLAM.

The day featured presentations from Southwark Council on their progress with the 12 Asks, followed by a powerful speech from Ernest of The Ernest Foundation. He spoke about his organisation’s journey, the impact of receiving ring-fenced funding, and the ongoing challenges faced by his organisation and other VCS organisations during these difficult times. Anood, CEO of Community Southwark, also provided updates on the work being done to address these issues. The group discussions were the day’s highlight, as BAME VCS leaders came together to share their insight and experiences and agree on the network’s future direction.

Summary and notes from the day can be found by following this LINK.