NURTURING GRASSROOTS: Refugee-led social action project making connections and togetherness impact in Middlesbrough
The non-profit Civil Society Consulting (CSC) team have provided free capacity support to grassroots organisations and their leaders such as Ubuntu. Emerging from this close working relationship, CSC was asked by Ubuntu Muti-Cultural Centre CIC in Middlesbrough to assess its impact locally in delivering work that benefits Black communities and is open to all, bringing people and communities together. A short report has been produced which records the lived experience views of its beneficiaries. Over recent years and specially in the last 18 months their community support and services have been funded by the National Lottery’s ‘Reaching Communities’ programme.
Ubuntu is a dynamic social enterprise providing:
Drop-in services including coffee morning, cultural evenings and a regular Eco shop offering food support to those experiencing food poverty needs;
advice, guidance and advocacy support and signposting to specialist service providers;
education and learning, workshops (creative music, dance, digital inclusion and literacy training, healthy food/cooking, health and wellbeing) and other bespoke support (including peer support) groups;
health promotion sessions (via Healthy Hearts);
for families, children and young people provision includes sports activities and school holiday clubs.
In fact, in February 2025 Ubuntu celebrated its 5th anniversary by announcing that it had provided advice, information and community support to almost 7,000 people as it doubled down on strengthening its work to build stronger connections between different communities, and statutory agencies designed to help those they serve. We also learn that food aid over the last five years has assisted nearly 15,000 families.
Ubuntu’s centre, located on Clifton Street in central Middlesbrough (Newport Ward), was established following an extensive community engagement and consultation exercise. Much of this work was initially enabled by National Lottery grant income, which is now being supplemented by a more diversified income base (grants from Virgin Money Foundation, Henry Smith Charity, Police Commissioner for Cleveland and Middlesbrough Council).
Greatly valued by all its beneficiaries, CSC found significant evidence of Ubuntu’s outstanding local impact. For many beneficiaries, the Ubuntu centre is a beacon of social connecting warmth, frequently referred to as a stress free, safe space. Levels of trust and a sense of belonging are notably high.
Ubuntu is now an established social enterprise. Having firmly rooted itself as a black-led - predominately black African-led - organisation, it has successfully reached out to all local communities and drawn them in. Older beneficiaries, particularly from White British backgrounds, were especially keen to report how they believed Ubuntu had forcefully and convincingly broken down perceived barriers. They highlighted how the centre is also enabling friendships to form among people from diverse backgrounds - something particularly noteworthy across different generations.
The report’s author, and CSC co-founder director Mark Ereira-Guyer, concluded:
