Black Funding Network Autumn Funder | 5th Anniversary

Ready to be part of something bigger? Our Autumn Funder brings together changemakers, community champions, and allies for an evening where your voice—and your contribution—truly matters.

What Makes This Different?

This isn't your typical charity gala. We're flipping the script on philanthropy. No fancy dress codes, no minimum donations, no exclusivity. Just real people coming together to support real change in Black communities across the UK.

You'll experience:

• Authentic Impact Stories – Three incredible Black-led grassroots organisations will share their work, their wins, and their vision for what's next
• Collective Power in Action – Watch £18,000+ get raised in real-time as everyone in the room contributes what they can
• Community Connection – Network with entrepreneurs, advocates, young changemakers, and seasoned community leaders who get it
• Your Role in History – Be part of our 5th birthday celebration as we reflect on £158,000+ already raised for Black British communities

The Evening Flow

5:15pm – Doors open, connections begin

6:15pm – Welcome & impact roundup

6:30pm – Meet the organisations changing the game

7:20pm – The magic happens: collective pledging session

8:30pm – Celebrate, network, plan what's next

Who Should Be Here?

You, if you're:

• Part of the Black community and want to see your peers thrive
• Ready to put your money where your values are
• An ally who understands that supporting Black-led work is essential
• Someone who believes small contributions create big change
• Looking for genuine community over performative giving

Your Investment, Their Impact

BFN Members: Free – because community takes care of communityEveryone Else: £15 – and every penny goes directly to the night's three organisations

Can't make it in person? Join virtually and be part of the energy from wherever you are.

The Bottom Line

Since 2020, our community has proven that when we all come together with intention, we don't just fundraise - we fund futures. We don't just network - we build movements.

Your presence matters. Your contribution matters. Your commitment to this community matters.

Ready to be in the room where change happens?

Book your spot now on Eventbrite. Tickets sell out, so don't wait. If it's already full, email admin@blackfundingnetwork.org – we'll find a way to get you involved.

This is more than an event. This is how we take care of each other.

Construction and Engineering Opportunities (CEO) CIC

Construction and Engineering Opportunities (CEO) CIC is a pioneering Black-led community interest company on a mission to transform lives through practical skills training and mentoring. Founded by Viviene Bish-Bedeau and grounded in lived experience, CEO creates inclusive pathways into construction and engineering for individuals who are often excluded from these industries — particularly young people, refugees, asylum seekers, and those who have experienced educational or social disadvantage.

CEO's approach is deeply personal and transformative. Many of their learners, whether 14 or 40, arrive after being told they're not capable. Through structured programmes that combine hands-on technical training in plumbing, electrical work, plastering, and other trades with accredited qualifications and comprehensive personal development, CEO works to change that narrative entirely.

The organization offers two key strands of work: their RAISE (Refugee and Asylum Seeker Integration and Empowerment) programme, which provides practical construction skills and mentoring to support integration and progression for those navigating language barriers, low confidence, and unfamiliarity with UK systems; and targeted delivery for young people not in education, employment, or training (NEETs), particularly those who fall outside formal support systems.

What sets CEO apart is their commitment to creating a safe, non-judgmental space where individuals can rediscover their abilities, build structure into their lives, and gain qualifications that carry real weight in the industry. Their mentoring is relational and culturally aware, while their practical teaching is informed by both industry standards and real-world experience. CEO's foundational belief is simple yet powerful: when people feel capable and supported, they begin to move forward—and take others with them.

Children with Voices

Children with Voices is a dynamic Hackney-based charity at the forefront of fighting holiday hunger and food poverty while empowering young people and strengthening community bonds. Taking a hands-on, inclusive approach to tackling poverty, hunger, and social exclusion, the organisation provides food, education, mentorship, and advocacy that empowers children and families to find their voice, improve their well-being, and build resilient communities.

The charity's flagship programme, Jumping Beans, creates a safe, nurturing, fun, and educational environment for children aged 5-11 during school holidays. Far more than just childcare, Jumping Beans offers a rich tapestry of activities including cooking, baking, arts and crafts, sports, and life skills development, all carefully designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, positive thinking, and community engagement while providing nutritious meals to tackle holiday hunger head-on.

Recognising the evolving needs of their community, Children with Voices is innovatively expanding their reach by delivering Jumping Beans directly in schools. This strategic shift from community halls to school-based delivery offers multiple benefits: utilising available space, building bridges between marginalised pupils and their schools, providing a safe and non-judgmental presence, helping re-engage children at risk of exclusion, and offering specialised support for SEN children who are more likely to be labelled as disruptive.

Their programming is trauma-informed, sensory-aware, and nutrition-inclusive, bridging the gap between academic education and real-world skills. Children with Voices works to combat serious issues like obesity, gang crime, and isolation by providing structured, supportive activities and mentorship rooted in ongoing conversations with local educators, parents, and community members to identify and fill gaps in provision across Hackney.

East London School of Music

The East London School of Music (ELSOM) is a dedicated small charity with a profound mission: promoting the art and training of classical music for public benefit while making this traditionally exclusive world accessible to everyone, particularly children and families from black and ethnic minority backgrounds who have historically been underrepresented in classical music.

Operating on the powerful principle that "talent is everywhere, opportunity is not," ELSOM addresses the significant barriers that prevent disadvantaged families from accessing classical music training. The organisation provides instrument lessons, music theory training, and performance opportunities to families who cannot afford private lessons or purchase their own instruments, recognising that participation in creative musical activities offers far more than just musical education—it provides vital social interaction and significantly improves mental health and wellbeing.

ELSOM's innovative Generations United programme exemplifies their commitment to community building and social connection. This ambitious intergenerational music initiative brings together 75 older people, 55 young people, and 20 volunteers through choir rehearsals, orchestra training, and comprehensive music theory education. Based at their Hackney location, the programme extends its reach through outreach events in Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest, culminating in performances at prestigious venues such as the South Bank and Royal Festival Hall.

The programme was thoughtfully developed in response to community conversations that identified a critical lack of long-term opportunities for different generations to connect meaningfully. With research showing that 50% of older adults in Hackney and Tower Hamlets live alone and 1.4 million older people in the UK experience chronic loneliness, ELSOM's work addresses a genuine social need. Their approach is grounded in evidence: group music activities improve social connection by 55%, and structured music engagement reduces loneliness by 60% while also improving cognitive function, particularly beneficial for those living with dementia.

Through their comprehensive programming, ELSOM creates meaningful connections, develops young people's leadership skills, and provides an accessible creative space that enables lasting social relationships to flourish across East London's diverse communities.