How do we reach all our communities in the SW? (About the Network)

Through this website, Black Net Solutions, and through our partnership with five sub regional community ‘hubs’.

BSWN currently has 370 members. Research suggests that there are up to 500 BME organisations that exist throughout the region.

BSWN aims to bring all of these organisations within its umbrella to address issues of isolation and marginalisation that may be experienced by our communities.

As an organisation working hard throughout the region but based primarily in Bristol, it would be impossible for us to reach every individual or group we seek to represent - and those we do not yet - efficiently. We therefore aim to build our membership and our reach.

BNS

BNS is a key tool to support communications between BME Communites whether in rural or urban areas to effectively communicate with each other and ensure that their views are recorded.

One key line of communication is through this website, Black Net Solutions, which acts as a communications portal for all information relating to BME issues in the SW and beyond.

It offers a place online where we can contribute to developing regional, sub-regional and local development plans, facilitating a better relationship between the state, its citizens and the services available to them.

Here we publish articles and advice relating to issues facing our members. We offer a forum for the exchange of information and archive past newsletters and other publications for downloading. We have useful links to sites of interest, contact information and members’ areas where our members can communicate more effectively with us and access other material specific to them and their issues.

Sub Regional Hubs
We support five sub regional ‘hubs’, like spokes in our wheel, each having a geographical responsibility but all working closely with our main office.

These are based currently in Devon and Cornwall, Gloucester and Wiltshire, the old Avon area, Somerset and Dorset.

The hubs will work closely with groups within their regions, building relationships and developing strategies based on continual research and feedback, and helping the sharing of skills and resources on the ground.