BECON, the North East network for the black voluntary and community sector was initiated by Paul Boetang in 1999 as one of 18 regional networks and funded by the Active Communities Unit, Home Office. Like all the networks it had three main aims:

• To unlock further funds for the sector at regional level.
• To advocate effectively for the sector at regional level to ensure that it is consulted and recognised as valuable in different policy areas and across sectors.
• To increase the effectiveness of the voluntary sector in each region through the provision of any of the following: information, advice, representation, training, publications and development services.

BECON employed its first workers in 2001, became its own accountable body, became a company limited by guarantee, achieved charity status, and expanded its office base to the south as well as the north of the region. It presently (2007) has 90 full (BME) member organisations and 25 associate members.

All research has indicated that BME (Black Minority Ethnic) voluntary organisations are under-funded, under resourced and marginalized and that institutional racism is still a factor. BECON has a particular challenge in the North East because of the low numbers of BME individuals and the lack of local BME networks and sub-regional BME organisations.

BECON, with the support of GONE, One North East, Big Lottery, Commission for Racial Equality and Capacity Builders has expanded to meet the needs of the sector. We currently employ two outreach workers for the North and the South of the region, a Sustainability Support Officer, a Partnership Officer, a Youth Integration Officer, a Policy Officer as well as an administrative team, a Chief Executive Officer and Operational Manager.  We work together to:

INFORM our organisation network of significant national, regional and local issues, policies and events via regular mailouts and bulletins.

PROMOTE a participatory platform for BME groups in the region to have a collective voice and to raise awareness and influence policy makers, funders and service providers. 

DEVELOP and strengthen the capacity of the BME sector by supporting local BME networks, facilitating training, workshops, advice and information.

SUPPORT individuals and groups to develop and share their skills, and realise their potential 

BECOME an efficient organisation that can advocate regionally for BME groups and communitie