BLKOUT UK

a MANIFESTO

BLKOUTUK.COM

2022 LAUNCHPAD - building on current activities and assets

a consultation

open to ideas and partnerships

Open meetings during January and February 2022 seeking to find out more, inviting offers of support, or contribution of ideas. Click to visit Get Involved to . . .get involved

We are seeking support and partnerships to enable BLKOUT to thrive in a manner that captures the imagination of Black Queer men in London and across the country, and leaves us with a sustainable legacy – in the words of Essex Hemphill in his 1992 poem, For My Own Protection – ‘an organisation to save our lives’.

rob@blkoutuk.com

INFORMATION WORKSHOP FOR PROSPECTIVE BOARD AND KINFOLK MEMBERS FEB 27TH BLACKMENWHOBRUNCH

The year ahead - 2022

BLKOUT HUB

Co-creating a digital village where we can connect, access relevant and timely services, build relationships for resilience and joy.

TAKE ME TO BLKOUTHUB

BLACK MEN WHO BRUNCH

A monthly event, carving out space for our growth, our connections, and our joy - a glimpse into the possible and inspiration for the future - learning, self-care, networks, arts, culture and fun - by us and for us.

Black Men Who Brunch enabled us to build working relationships with British Land, Meta, and Kooth plc - piloting our work on digital mental health with one of the UK leaders in the field of NHS sponsored digital mental health provision

BRUNCH INFO & PITCHES

IN THE PICTURE

Our groundbreaking, community-led, research project (published Nov 2020) comparing access to our capacity to address the barriers to the potential of Black Queer Men from across London, with a focus on 'community', public policy, social cohesion, and belonging

READ THE RESEARCH

BLKOUTUK.COM BLOG & SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

Live since 2016, the BLKOUTUK website has nearly 250 articles, profiles, reviews, or event reports. It hosts our online shop launched in 2021 selling a range of BLKOUT merchandise - it has reached over 100,000 visitors.

Across LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, we reach over 20,000 each month

EXPLORE OUR WEBSITE

Our priority now is to build resources, capacity, and partnerships that help to refine and deliver a vital, innovative programme of investment in skills, relationships, and community assets, that will support Black Queer men to unleash their talents, creativity and generosity, as we come together to address shared challenges, offer mutual aid, raise platforms for dialogue and healing, and build the personal and collective resilience to confound the inequalities, silences, and fears that have constrained our potential.

CALL TO ACTION

Deepen/extend connections via BLKOUT HUB and 'Black Men Who Brunch'

Active online community management – establish weekly schedule, revive BLKOUT Vanguard group
Improve use of HUB for governance and future scope viability and monetisation via dating function
Improve core delivery of Black Men Who Brunch via arts, entertainment, and learning support
Establish 3–5 independently managed online groups

Prepare pitch for longer term funding / investment

Jan - Buy in medium term admin and community mgmt support 2.5 FTE
Engage with VCS umbrella orgs, philanthropic funders, social investors, and government sources to access resources focused on transformative change for Black Queer Men
March – Publish prospectus
April – 4– 6 £100k+ proposals for funding submitted

Gather the best minds to share insights and learning

April - establish partnerships and steering group for large policy/academic conference on Black Queer men’s lives in Britain
June – issue call for papers for Feb 23 conference
October – start promotion of conference as contribution to Pride 2022

Build alliances to deliver on our evidence-based agenda

Jan-Mar – host engagement events to debate and share good practice on mental health (use as model for other ‘In The Picture’ issues – data, civic participation, community-owned space
April – initiate/embed formal partnerships where appropriate
April – progress report to community and stakeholders

Increase capacity / skills for leadership and project delivery

Jan - March – Develop 6-8 module, online leadership course for 12–18 participants, with expert input, direct coaching, and group work
April - June – deliver course
June– Graduation event, accreditation required for BLKOUT freelancers and board members – date set for second round

ESTABLISHING FIERCE FOUNDATIONS

Governance

Working with first wave board to recruit and support their successor cohort in establishing a model of governance and advisory functions, alongside the development of working practices and financial management that are transparent and accountable to our stakeholders and sector regulators.

Policy

Starting with safeguarding to ensure the protection of the vulnerable who engage with BLKOUT's work and delivery, we will agree policies that respond to our collective values and offer the highest levels of protection from harm, promote dignity at work, and offer clarity about the expectations we have of each other.

Delivery

Embedding support for effective delivery including: establish an accredited freelancers’ directory, agree template employment and partnership contracts, establish ongoing fundraising and social enterprise model, project management tools, rebrand / refresh brand, renew CRM, data and knowledge management.

Sustainability

We will adopt strategies that reduce our impact on our planet and environment, and that promote climate justice. We will also consider our organisational sustainability, seeking to build community assets, invest in collective enterprise and ensure our work remains intergenerational and champions distributed leadership.