“Let My Candle Shine” – Young Black Women Navigating the UK Voluntary Sector

This community research project, carried out between January and August 2024 encouraged Black women aged 18 to 35 to reflect on their experiences working in the voluntary sector in the UK.

Some core themes emerged over the course of the study, which have been grouped into four primary categories: belonging, progression, care, and wider contextual factors. Each section of this report explores one of these themes in depth.

The challenges Black women face in the voluntary sector are real, but not insurmountable. In each section, practical action items and opportunities for voluntary organisations are provided to better meet the needs of and support young Black women in their roles. These range from facilitating access to culturally competent, trauma-informed therapists and coaches, to challenging harmful systems of oppression, and more.

We are also privileged to include words of wisdom shared by young Black women, so that our peers working in the voluntary sector feel seen and validated.

About the authors:

Grace* is a Black British woman from the West Midlands. She has six years of experience delivering and being involved in research projects. She has a passion for community-led research approaches and she is experienced in facilitating community conversations on culturally sensitive topics.

Tunde* is a Black Londoner. She has experience delivering research projects as a peer researcher and engaged with the local community to effect meaningful change. With a deep interest in research, she is committed to addressing social disparities.

Grace and Tunde are recipients of The Jane Hatfield Award: a grant to support the next generation of researchers and activists. This Award is from IVAR and The Ubele Initiative CIC.

*Pseudonyms have been used.