Becon (Black Ethnic minorities Community Organisations Network) came about as a result of a government regional initiative around equalities in the early 2000’s promoted by MP Paul Boetang and the Home Office. After much local consultations, BECON was born in 2001. Initially an infra-structure organisation, Becon created and advocated ‘BME’ networks across the North East, and ensured that they were represented at policy and decision and acted as a ‘becon’ across the region.
Becon started off employing Beverley Prevatt-Goldstein as admin person and CEO, and within a couple of years the staff team had grown to 9, with representation on charities and government bodies and multiple projects across the North East. Louise Evan-Wong was the first Chair of the Board in 2001. The office was a welcoming and safe space for Black and minoritised people across the Region to come and visit and feel valued.
Becon created opportunities for people to recognise their worth and gave them the tools and support and to challenge the racism in everyday lives. Becon had a multitude of projects across a wide range of subjects, Community Champions, Children’s Partnership Project, Sports Development, Employment Support, Learning and Skills, BME Leadership, Mental Health Project, Youth Integration to name a few. One great project was the Community Champions Project.
Each champion was funded to attend 3 national conferences and in return they would have to share the information they gained with their organisation through Becon newsletters or presentations at network meetings. Over the 5 yr period of the Project more than 200 individuals participated and 5 community Champions won National Awards for their contributions to the North East
Becon showed that BME organisations can work together and united can be a strong contributor at all levels and that when BME people are involved at decision making levels – more inclusive decisions are made as they involve lived experience.
Sadly Becon was wound up in 2018. Every organisation has a life span and there comes a time when it needs to wind down and probably Becon reached this some time before 2018.
There was a change of Government and the priorities changed from Regional to Local, all the GONE, ONE’s staff were dispersed and it became very difficult to obtain funding for Regional Organisations – this was certainly one of the factors for dissolving Becon.
Plus the emphasis was on service delivery and this was something we had always agreed not tto do so as not to be in competition with local BME orgs.
