Buckinghamshire BAME network launched and invites members from Aylesbury Vale

Buckinghamshire’s BAME Network (BBN) announces launch under the guidance of community champion and Buckinghamshire councilor Mimi Harker OBE.
Mimi Harker OBE, Founder of The Buckinghamshire BAME NetworkMimi Harker OBE, Founder of The Buckinghamshire BAME Network
Mimi Harker OBE, Founder of The Buckinghamshire BAME Network

The organisation aims to welcome members from across the county and provide opportunities to help, support, make connections and network.

The network first met in August 2020 and involved representatives from community groups, organisations and businesses from across Buckinghamshire. Since then, the network has grown attracting many new members and interest from partners.

The network has nine active workstreams spanning: Youth, Education, Housing, Arts, Culture and Events, Crime and Justice, Health and Wellbeing, Communications, Elderly and Women.

These streams will proactively be tackling inequality, shortfalls in service and under-representation across Buckinghamshire to make the county a national example of best practice.

The network will provide a platform and opportunity for members of BAME communities to ensure their voices are acknowledged and respected. The network prides itself on strong communication and collaborative partnerships, meaning issues can be identified and solutions found quickly with ease.

Mimi Harker OBE, Founder of The Buckinghamshire BAME Network and Councilor says: “The pandemic has had a disproportionately negative impact on people with black and Asian heritage across the country. Alongside this, awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 has created a ‘perfect storm’. Now is the time to launch our network after decades of trying. People are finally seeing how necessary it is for us all and I am thrilled to be championing this cause across my home county.”

BBN showcases the best of all cultures and heritages - the group celebrated Black History Month with passion, followed by Diwali. It is now working towards an inaugural event for International Women’s Day featuring Rachael Shimmin, Chief Executive of Buckinghamshire’s newly formed unitary county council and British-Nigerian singer Patti Boulaye OBE.

Mimi concludes: “The network allows us to build a better understanding of all the beautifully diverse communities across the county and deliver better services based on need. We will target specific areas acutely, such as exploring health inequality and the asymmetries of knowledge which are very prominent issues at the moment.”