In September, we worked with Expedia Group to overcome 2020’s challenges and facilitate a mixture of in-person and virtual volunteering opportunities for staff during their ‘Month of Caring’ initiative.

From the 23rd of November until the 18th of December, ELBA and BIG Alliance will be collecting, sorting, and distributing what we hope will be an expected 10,000 toys to support children and families in need. Find out how you can get involved.

In partnership with Islington Council’s Black History Month programme and our continued commitment to BAME Equality, BIG Alliance Programme Manager Tom Browne chaired our first panel discussion on board diversity and more specifically the barriers and opportunities to increasing BAME (black and minority ethnic) representation.

Nobody wants to live in a society where parents have to turn to food banks to feed their children, but for lots of families in our city, this is a reality every day. It doesn’t have to be like this though. Everyone, from national and local governments and the Mayor, to employers and local communities, has a role to play.

In support of MUFG’s Laureus Sport for Good partnership, BIG Alliance recently helped deliver a series of communications workshops for Fight for Peace, a London-based programme supported by Laureus.

We are all aware of the disproportionate impact of the virus on people from Black and Asian backgrounds, and there is a pertinent question about the degree to which such health inequalities existed before COVID, as they surely did, and whether COVID has just brought them into sharper relief. Likewise with digital inequality – has COVID merely highlighted the divide that already existed, or has it widened the gap?

Lockdown has been tough for the hundreds of children who usually attend the playgrounds. Many sites have only recently reopened with reduced offers and limited capacity due to the necessary protective measures needed. Despite the lower numbers, the playgrounds will still see plenty of use and come the end of summer, they are going to need a lot of TLC to keep them safe and looking their best.

There has never been a more crucial time to support young people, to reassure and inspire them and do everything we can to safeguard the continuation of their exploration and development.

Get to know your local area, somewhere new, or challenge yourself to see the whole borough this summer!

It has been over 3 months since ELBA and BIG Alliance, their member companies, and community partners had to show an incredibly fast community response when lockdown regulations were first implemented.

We come together as a new campaign led by a group of senior and influential Black and BAME professionals and business organisations, drawn together by Red Lion Chambers and ELBA and make this statement of intent in response to the shocking events of 25 May 2020.

ELBA and BIG Alliance are from, and serve some of the most, diverse communities in the country – if not the world. We have been proud to talk about how our communities here reach out across an interconnected global community. Despite the quarantines and barriers thrown up by the coronavirus, we have remained connected to each other via the internet, social media, and our common humanity.

Skills Builder – the universal framework for essential skills – launched on 20th May. BIG Alliance and ELBA are part of the Trailblazer partnership which is pioneering the use of the new framework. We are starting to use the Skills Builder Universal Skills Framework across all our existing programmes.

This year, Mental Health Awareness Week seems more important than ever. With the usual stressors of work now accompanied by the fear, uncertainty and sadness that come with the current crisis, focusing on mental health and promoting wellbeing is crucial.

In times of uncertainty, we look to our leaders to guide us. They are the most experienced in our ranks. They have been there, done that and bought the t-shirt. Surely, they know what to do?

Today is supposed to mark the first day of the Summer term for children and young people across the country. However, for the majority, it will be another day at home in the ongoing lockdown during the coronavirus crisis.

In light of the recent coronavirus pandemic, BIG Alliance has been working hard to adapt our programmes to ensure our business partners and volunteers are still able to support people who need it most.

Our founding partner and funder Islington Giving have created the Islington Giving Crisis Fund to help ensure the most vulnerable people in Islington are supported during the Covid-19 outbreak.

What we all want to ensure is that children, our children, do not suffer from the lack of contact with school and all it provides (learning, friendships, safety, food, and so much more). The same applies for those that usually attend nursery, college or university – these institutions play such an important role in society.

BIG Alliance and East London Business Alliance are here for the community and business as we all face the challenges of COVID-19 together. We are responding to the needs of Islington and east London community partners and business members by offering more remote volunteering opportunities, employment support and fundraising, as we all have to adjust.