ABOUT

Race Equality North Somerset (RENS) is an award-winning, volunteer-based, community-focused charity advocating for Racial, Cultural and Social Justice and Systems Change.

We work with local government, the VCSFE sector and other strategic partners to promote and support the rights, interests, welfare and wellbeing of racially minoritised communities in North Somerset.

Across the UK, approximately 15% of the population is born outside the UK. In North Somerset, where over 80 languages are spoken, our charity serves the growing demand for the identification, co-ordination and delivery of appropriate policies, strategies and services for our increasingly ethnically diverse communities.

History

Since 2007 our small organisation, run entirely by volunteers, has worked to support racially minoritised communities in North Somerset. In 2015, as North Somerset BME Network, our Community Interest Organisation became a Registered Charity and in 2022, we reviewed and totally updated our operations and our vision, which was reflected in our official rebranding as Race Equality North Somerset (RENS).

From providing advice to individuals to promoting community educational, social and cultural events, we have – despite limited resources – been able to punch above our weight in the delivery of our help and services. (The hard work of our volunteers, over the years, was recently recognised by our charity being presented with the honour of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which is equivalent to an MBE and the highest award given to voluntary organisations in the UK.

In line with the good practice of many organisations, we ensure that we take the time to reflect on our work and see how we can be more beneficial and effective for the communities we serve. As a result, we have embarked on a radical shift to reflect not only the changing needs and demographics of North Somerset, but also to position ourselves to be able to initiate and support the need for more relevant and urgent programmes and partnerships that address issues related to race equality, diversity and inclusion in our local population.

Strategic Focus

We aim to ensure that, even as a small volunteer-run charity and despite the wider challenges facing us all (e.g. general reductions in public, voluntary and charity sector funding), we can increase our impact and deliver tangible and sustainable benefits for the community across the whole of North Somerset.

To those ends, our activities reflect a range of carefully selected initiatives, projects, programmes, collaborations and partnerships that are continually being developed and refined to help us deliver positive changes to enhance the quality of life not just for all racially minoritised communities, but for everyone living or working in the wider community of North Somerset.

Our Work

Our work towards race equality in North Somerset, sits at the intersection of Racial Justice, Cultural Justice, Social Justice, all underpinned by Systems Change. We are therefore engaged in a range of projects and programmes (often working in collaboration with other key organisations) that combine to effect positive, tangible benefits for the community.

Examples include delivering the Community Renewal Fund grant in Weston-super-Mare; the development of The Other Place; membership of many local government-led, NHS and other institutional policy groups and committees; and helping to incubate and collaborate on many other community projects, consultations, programmes, and events in order to deliver innovative and impactful outcomes which support and promote equity, diversity and inclusion for all the community.

Patron: Denis Burn, MBE D.L.
Trustees: Sayd Ahmed, Yvonne Clark, Karen Lee, Ian Noah

We are grateful for the support of all past and present Trustees and supporters, including:-
The Deputy Lieutenants and the High Sheriffs of Somerset; the Town Mayors of Weston-super-Mare, our local MP and Councillors; and all our volunteers and friends. 

We have helped develop projects and mutual collaborations with different statutory and non-statutory organisations and funders, and work with many partners including :-

North Somerset Council, Weston-super-Mare Town Council, NHS, Voluntary Action North Somerset, Citizens Advice North Somerset, Weston College and many others.

Over the years, we have been fortunate in receiving financial support from a variety of organisations, and are a very grateful to all of them, especially:-

Black South West Network
Community Renewal Fund
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Lions International
National Grid
National Lottery
North Somerset Council
Pappadoms of Weston-super-Mare
Rotary Club of Weston-Super-Mare
South West Foundation
Weston-super-Mare Town Council
Quartet Community Foundation