As part of Black History Month 2022, we are spotlighting individuals working around the following themes:
- Skills
- Innovation
- Research
- Business
This week we are focusing on Skills:
UWE Bristol in partnership with Black South West Network and NatWest are working to deliver the Green Skills for Jobs and Entrepreneurship (Green Skills) programme. This is an initiative funded by the UK Government’s Community Renewal Fund (CRF) and managed by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) on behalf of the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
Green Skills is a unique and transformational programme that provides access to jobs, training and business opportunities to Black, Asian and minoritised young people (aged 18-28) and recent graduates living in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Bath and Northeast Somerset.
Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees joined our most recent cohort of learners on one of our programme delivery days, where he spoke to learners about leadership, the Bristol One City plan and the city’s declaration of a climate and ecological emergency drawing on its intersection with racial and social justice and the need for a just and inclusive transition to a greener workforce.
‘It was fantastic to meet with young people taking part in the Green Skills for Jobs programme and discuss their concerns and ideas for responding to the climate crisis. It is particularly encouraging to see minoritised communities representing the full diversity of our city given space to engage in these issues and bring solutions to the table.
We know the impacts of the climate crisis will disproportionately impact minoritised groups, both locally and globally. We also know that there is a huge opportunity for young people to benefit from green jobs and skills, where there is growing demand and expansion. This programme highlights the need to tackle economic and climate justice together and I look forward to seeing what the group go on to do next.“