ASPIRE is a pioneering pilot leadership development programme with a Dream to co-create with 8 aspiring Trustees of Colour and 4 leading VCSE organisations to change the face of the city’s boardrooms for good.

With only 8% of Trustees being People of Colour, ASPIRE is a pilot leadership development program that will support 8 aspiring PoC to become Trustees of 4 leading VCSE organisations in Bristol. 

At our recent launch, we saw a great turnout and interest. BeOnBoard CEO Kalpna Woolf said: “Diversifying your Board is a very important step in helping to tackle the inequalities that many VCSE sector organisations are set up to address. In fact, you could say its mission is critical. That’s why we are delighted to partner with the National Lottery who also recognise the importance of ASPIRE, which we hope will become a template to helping organisations to address this long-standing boardroom imbalance.” 

With a package of support that’s valued at over £10,000 for aspiring Trustees, thanks to funding from the National Lottery, participation in ASPIRE is totally free. So, whether you’re an aspiring Trustee of colour looking to break through the glass ceiling into the Boardroom, or if you’re an organisation looking to advance its commitment to ED&I, check the eligibility criteria below to see if you can apply to participate. 

• Do you consider yourself to be a person of colour otherwise known as  BAME?
• Do you aspire to become a Trustee but have faced barriers in achieving this?
• Would you like to boost your strategic skills sets, strengthen your networks and give back to society?
• Do you live or work in Bristol?

If yes then you are eligible to apply to be one of the eight ASPIRE candidates As a free Boardroom development program, This aspect of ASPIRE is valued at £10,000 per Trustee, but is free to participants. Benefits include:

• 1 x Skill audit and evaluation of your Hard & Soft Skills
• 3 x Workshops to enhance your understanding of governance, leadership skills and boost your confidence
• 1 x Leadership development Coach session
• Toolkits to support your learning
• Inclusion in evaluation report – shared widely 

Furthermore:

• Over 6 months (March-Sept 2022), 2 aspiring Trustees of colour will be incubated onto one of four host organisation that values diversity
• You will sit on the Board as an advisor, and observer, sharing your invaluable skills and expertise to help your host Board deliver inclusive governance
• BeOnBoard will support you throughout via dedicated training on Boardroom governance; Voice & Influence; Fireside chats with inspirational leaders; Peer to peer support
• At the end of your placement, there will be opportunities to solidify your learning with pathways to permanent Boardroom positions 

If you missed us on launch day, click here to see the full video!