On 29 April 2021, we held our AGM online. Aside from the normal AGM business, we were delighted to host a lunchtime talk by Josh Babarinde OBE, patron of Diversity Resource International (DRI).
DRI was set up in 2004 and is a social enterprise based in Sussex which aims to develop human capital. They offer a range of short and long programmes for effective leadership, high performance at work, success in business and a better life. They make their programmes inclusive, supportive, empowering and long lasting.
Josh is an Eastbourne community campaigner who is founder and CEO of Cracked It, London’s smartphone repair service staffed by young ex-offenders. This won him a place on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Entrepreneur list in 2019 and the business was recognised as Social Enterprise of the Year by the Evening Standard and the Centre for Social Justice.
In his presentation, Josh talked about how, by putting diversity and inclusion at the heart of service delivery, the voluntary sector can ensure that all sections of the community are able to access appropriate services that meet their particular needs.
The presentation was followed by a Q&A session during which Ruqia Osman spoke. Ruqia is currently the Race Equality Development worker at DRI. She is a scientist by training and has held positions as a Governor of the University of Bath and Trustee of University of Bath’s Students Union. Ruqia has been very involved in activism as a student, taking up several roles leading student groups, and running to be the Former Education officer at the Student’s Union. She has taken part in many local and national campaigns to promote equality and opportunity for young people.