BD Giving Notes #53 – What Does Participation Look Like?
Participation is a word that we often hear in various contexts, such as education, work, politics, sports, and social activities. But what does it mean to participate? And who gets to decide how we participate? Our Head of Learning and Participation, Cameron Bray, looks to their past for an example of why we do not […]
BD Giving Notes #47 – ‘’History is happening all the time‘’
Though our fund could only support eight businesses, the other ninety-something predominantly black-led businesses made us think deeply about our role in decolonising funding and the meaning of “purpose” in business. Kate Harmatz It’s really exciting when lots of things you’ve been working on over many years start to join up and tell a great […]
BD Giving Notes #45 – ‘’Pride, Place and Progress‘’
As a Trustee for BD Giving, I am proud to be involved with an organisation working towards inclusivity in the borough… BD Giving is rooted in local communities, and their core values of collaboration, inclusion, and learning directly align with the ethos LGBTQ+ communities need to thrive within the borough. Andrew Kerr In this Note, […]
BD Giving Notes #44 – ‘’All Good Things Come To An End (when to step away and how to do it well)‘’
As I dive into other projects, I will think about everything I have learnt with the Working Group – the bestowed wisdom I have from being a part of the process but more importantly from the powerful connections I have forged with some of the Barking and Dagenham community. Jack Webb In this Note our […]
BD Giving Notes #43 – ‘’Looking Out For Each Other‘’
Good mental health is necessary for fostering interpersonal relationships and maintaining productivity within the team. As a small team, any wrinkle in our team synergy can derail communication and throw us off balance. Adeshola Adejare In this Note, for Mental Health Awareness Week the BD Giving team shares their mental well-being practices. As our last […]
BD Giving Notes #41 – “Leadership and Self-care‘’
I’m incredibly grateful for this discovery. It has allowed me to see certain patterns in a new light, become more attuned to my own emotions, and modify some of my behaviours accordingly. Géraud de Ville de Goyet In this Note, Géraud de Ville de Goyet writes about empathic leadership and the need for self-care. I […]
BD Giving Notes #40 – “My weapon of choice‘’
A few weeks ago, our Head of Learning & Participation finally finished their Level 4 training in Lewis Deep Democracy (LDD), marking the culmination of a development process that started in September 2020. Here, Cameron, reflects on what they’ve learned and what this means for their work.
BD Giving Notes #39 – “Thinking carefully about inclusion as we promote the GROW Fund‘’
We see the future of our borough as one where underrepresented groups have the same opportunities as others. We want to spread equity across the borough. Jack Webb As we continue to market the GROW Fund and spread the word about this fantastic opportunity in the community, we can’t help but think about all the […]
BD Giving Notes #38 – “The Double-edged sword of Representation and Visibility‘’
While we advocate for representation, diversity and inclusion, I think we often forget the other edge of that sword; the clearer the visibility, the easier it is for bigots to have a face to attach to their hate. Adeshola Adejare As LGBTQIA+ history month ends, this blog is about the good and bad results that […]
BD Giving Notes #37 – “The death of Nuance‘’
Two things can be true at once. These same two things can be conflicting and in opposition. This is where understanding nuance comes in. A world which does not allow for nuance is not a world that accounts for experience or growth. Adeshola Adejare and Cameron Bray Communication without Nuance eliminates agency and the idea […]