BD Collective Members Connect over Lunch

From left: Matt Skinner, Abiola Okuba, Anna Pollard, Clare Emmins, Hannah Kupoluyi, Sam Miller, Amelie Tan, Victor Sosanya, Jeorgina Soares, Laura Iosifescu, Wendy Konadu, Khushnood Ahmed

BD Collective hosted our first members in-person gathering since we relaunched. It felt like a new beginning as we reconnected with some familiar faces who are now official members of our co-operative. We were also eager to welcome new members to our movement. 

While doing a round of introductions, we were pleasantly surprised to learn how each organisation and individual was connected to the borough, the stories of what brought them into working in the social sector, and the friendships and connections that have been formed over the years.

Connecting members

Wendy Konadu told us she started Empoweru Today CIC to help others navigate health disabilities and chronic illnesses after her own lived experience. If you support residents going through the same conditions, please connect with Wendy on Discourse (or BD Collective WhatsApp Community if you’re a member). 

We learned that Abiola, one of several multi-hyphenates in the room who founded Adventures in Compassionate Commerce (AiCC) and Victor, long-time Dagenham resident and Cambridge graduate who founded Valuable Community CIC, both left a career in finance to start community organisations because they saw a need in their communities. 

Victor signed up to BD Collective to connect with his local social sector. He hopes to start running more activities in Barking & Dagenham, catering for young people looking to explore careers where people from less affluent or low socio-economic backgrounds are underrepresented. 

Abiola has since taken up roles across North East London health spaces. These include supporting a community-led initiative funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and convened by BD Collective, as Community Lead & Co-chair to champion VCFSE participation and delivery towards improving cancer journeys for Barking & Dagenham cancer patients.

Collective objectives

We also discussed  BD Collective’s strategic objectives: Connect (genuine human connection, trust and well-being), Collaborate (member-driven, action-oriented partnerships) & Influence (VCFSE membership values asserted, shaping our collective impact on the borough) and how we will work towards achieving these. We asked folks 

• what motivated them to sign up for membership?
• what will keep them involved and coming back?
• what a successful VCFSE membership organisation looks like to them? 

We will keep asking these questions as the Collective is only as strong as its membership The more VCFSE organisations that join us the stronger we are togetherBecause when Barking & Dagenham’s VCFSE is better connected and collaborates more, we all become more influential in driving change for local people.