9 June 2025. We are fortunate again to be recipients of the Community Inclusion Grant Scheme from the Portsmouth City Council which aims to advance community cohesion and promote equality, diversity, and inclusion. Our director Shipa Ahmed Khan and Community Researcher Fatma Tuylu attended the award event at Portsmouth Guildhall.
It was such an honour to receive the Inclusion grant again this year. Chatting over a cup of tea and cake, it was humbling to see so many other fantastic charities all doing amazing work in supporting our local Portsmouth community.
Congratulations to all the award recipients.
—WBI Director Shipa Ahmed Khan
The initial grant, awarded in November 2022, enabled us to launch our ongoing Food with Friends project, a series of community integration events that extend a warm invitation to new migrants for a shared meal and a session of health education. We introduced the project at the onset of the national cost-of-living crisis. Thanks to the grant and our match funding, we were able to sustain Food with Friends throughout the winter months of 2022-2023.
The second grant, awarded in February 2024, focused on Developing Migrants’ Digital Skills for Job Search. The project addressed digital inequalities by supporting migrant job seekers in improving their employment prospects. Emre Bektas, a QA Engineer, shared his personal experience of finding his dream job through LinkedIn, and Alec Chapman of POOW Media took professional headshots for jobseekers to use for online profiles.
This time, we will conduct a Migration Integration Workshop, designed to support new migrants from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds who are settling in Portsmouth. The workshop will help them adapt to their new community and encourage their active economic and social participation.
We are absolutely thrilled to receive these generous words from Portsmouth City Council Councillor Chris Attwell:
over the past three years, I have been fortunate to see up close the things [Work Better Innovations] are doing to support an inclusive and sustainable economy…thrillled to watch this social enterprise go from strength to strength and, in recognition of their important work, delighted they are now a three-time recipient of a Community Inclusion Grant.
We are deeply grateful for this continued support, which empowers us to create safe, welcoming spaces that celebrate diversity and ensure every member of our community feels valued and included.
Stay tuned for updates! We can’t wait to share how the workshop will strengthen our community bonds.
