Last week marked National Volunteers Week - a time to celebrate the dedicated millions who make up the UK's voluntary workforce - and with a lot of pride our ground-breaking ASPIRE programme for volunteer Trustees is now well and truly underway. Having recently announced our first ever cohort, the Aspiree’s and participating VCSE organisations have since completed their second round of Bootcamp training sessions and are gearing up for their third in July. So, as part of National Volunteers Week, we asked them to share how they felt about ASPIRE so far?

"Regardless of our various professional backgrounds we all have overlapping strengths, weaknesses, goals and concerns which bond us all together as a tight group! The lessons I’m learning, and the skill set I contribute are all invaluable & transferable into different facets of my life! This amazing pilot group and training is life changing!” Anette Hughes

Don't let fear stop you from applying to become a Trustee - even the most outwardly confident people harbour feelings of 'imposter syndrome'.  Organisations will value you as much as the next person. Suzanne Rolt, CEO Quartet Foundation

You can follow ASPIRES ongoing adventures in inclusive leadership visit www.beonboard.co.uk/aspire or #AspireBeOnBoard.

On Thursday 29th September at 10am, join us for an insightful chat with speakers who will share their lived experiences as change-makers who have transformed the face of our boardrooms. The session will look at diversity from the perspective of the new trustee and explore what organisations can do to create a culture of belonging that welcomes and embraces difference, diversity of thought and lived experience to help Trustees thrive.

Together with 3SG, our speakers and hosts will show organisations how they can diversify their Boards, increase cognitive diversity of thought and deliver better governance to increase mission impact. Places are limited so sign up today.

In 1969 the Stonewall riots and protests in New York became the focal point for the conversations about homophobia and LGBTQ+ rights not just in the US but around the world. Fast forward to 2022 and with every June being Pride Month, this year it marks the 50th anniversary of the first celebrations here in the UK! All throughout June and across Bristol there will be fabulous events celebrating LGBTQ+ culture, icons, fashion, music, and the LGBTQ+ contributions to politics, sport and more.

Recognised by the United Nations, Sunday 19th June is World Sickle Cell Day. Most common in African, Mediterranean and people of Asian descent, did you know that Sickle Cell & Thalassemia disease affects millions of people worldwide? So, on Saturday June 18th come along to the Sickle Cell & Thalassemia Awareness Day. At this family friendly event you can enjoy great food, entertainment and learn more about the disease. Speakers include Torkwase Holmes (NHS Blood and Transplant Bristol) Paulette Palmer (Friends of Cymru Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia).

In 1948 the arrival of the SS Windrush marked the first wave of over half a million people from the Caribbean who were invited here to help rebuild post-war Britain. To mark this, National Windrush Day on Wednesday 22nd June celebrates and recognises the indelible contribution that the Caribbean community has made to all aspects of British life. So, with Bristol being home to one of the UK’s largest Caribbean communities you can expect a carnival of cultural pride across Bristol. Checkout what our good friend Deputy Mayor Asher Craig feels about the day.

Do you want to keep more of your income amid the cost-of-living crisis?

Do you want to learn more about investment planning?

Are you interested in finding funding for your side hustle?

Then from 7pm on June 23rd the Black Professional Network are hosting an in-person networking event with an expert panel who will provide practical advice on these topics followed by a Q&A session. Get your tickets now!