Pathway Fund concept launches at the Royal Arts Society

Voice4Change England (V4CE), Black Global Trust and The Social Investment Consultancy (TSIC) to create Pathway Fund - a new wholesaler fund in the social investment space, focused on growing black and minoritised enterprise led by black and minoritised partners and talent.

We had an exciting and engaging public launch of the Pathway Fund on Tuesday 15th November 2022 at the RSA. Guests included

Government, such as The Cabinet Office and The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

Social investment organisations, such as Big Society Capital, Big Issue Invest, and The National Lottery Community Fund

Non-profit organisations, such as Esmée Fairburn Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Charities Aid Foundation

Racial justice organisations, such as The Ubele Initiative, Do It Now Now and Black Heroes Foundation

During the afternoon, we heard from Kunle Olulode MBE and Stephen Bediako OBE, on the importance of Pathway and our model for driving change.

After a Q&A with Pathway executive team, Bonnie Chiu hosted a panel discussion, which featured

Dilys Winterkorn, Pathway’s new Project Director

Andy Davis, the Co-Founder of 10x10 and a Venture Capitalist in Black Founders

Amir Rizwan, Investor Relations Director at Big Society Capital

Seb Elsworth MBE, Chief Executive at Access

Dilys Winterkorn said, “It will be important that we build and contribute to solutions working for racial equity, with a systemic lens, and focus on impact.”

The panel shared their thoughts on how to create systems change for racial equity in finance and answered questions from the audience. The event was closed with remarks from Gemma Rocyn Jones, Senior Strategy Advisor at The National Lottery Community Fund, and Danyal Sattar, Chief Executive Officer at Big Issue Invest.

Danyal Sattar said, “We are like rowers, in little boats, and we are rowing against the tide. There are two approaches to change the tide - pick your moment and set out your boat. Sometimes you have to reach for the moon, as it is the moon that sets the tide. About 25 years ago, people reached for the moon and they changed the tide. That is what you need to do today.”