Keyboard Group

Who are we?

The position of Keyboard Networker was vacant for 18 years. So in 2016, Churches Together in Greater Bristol (CTGB) came together with key leaders from the Black Churches. This was to form a working group that could consider the history of the Keyboard Group, reflect on the present and seek to discern the best way forward.

Partner organisations and networks

The Keyboard Group steering group:

Bishop Raymond Veira - House of Praise (Church of God of Prophecy)
Derick Mulubwa – Vice Chair
Pastors Osien and Fatima Sibanda (God's House International)
Roger Allen - T4B Facilitator of Whole of Life Networks

Representatives from the Enabling group:

Derick Mulubwa – Prayer & Praise
Rev Eric Aidoo - Chair - City Road Baptist

What do we do?

The Keyboard Group's aims and objectives are:

To promote a culture of racial justice and equality in and through the churches in the city of Bristol.
To identify and work with leaders of Black-led churches and to engage, encourage, empower and promote networks and prayer.
To maintain a database of Black-led churches.
To organise a number of gatherings each year for prayer and sharing.
To create forums; for regular communication through social and electronic media.
To assist in promoting the work of Black-led churches across the wider community through Churches Together in Greater Bristol (CTGB)/ Together4Bristol (T4B).

Keyboard Networker

The previous Keyboard Networker, Carmen Carrol, took up employment in April 2019-April 2023 and has been instrumental in engaging and networking with both black and white church leaders and pastors across the city. Within the first year engagement was made with 16 Black-led churches and the creation of a 40 strong database of black churches in Bristol.

The Keyboard Group is currently transitioning into the second phase of its mission. In the past 3 years, significant progress has been made in networking with faith leaders, individuals and organisations across the city, as well as outside the city. Various programmes organised by Keyboard Group have helped in educating churches and people on various platforms on different topics including the church and racial justice, mental health and wellbeing to mention a few.

Regrettably due to funding constraints, the Keyboard Networker position will end in April 2023. However, the work of Keyboard Group will continue under the supervision of Churches Together In Greater Bristol (aka Together4Bristol). Thank you for walking with me, encouraging me and participating in our activities during this time.

Why do we do it - Vision

The Keyboard Group exists to:

Build unity between the black and white-led churches in Bristol. It seeks to encourage a culture of engagement and collaboration in the life of all our churches and between churches that fully values and represents the racial and ethnic diversity within our communities.
Help transform society. It works to challenge all our churches to work together in practical and measurable ways towards the creation of communities in which people are treated with justice and offered equal opportunity regardless of their ethnic or racial background. In order to reach this overarching vision these two aspirations have been broken down into specific Benefits and Outcomes:

Building Unity

There will be opportunities for Christian leaders from black and white ethnic backgrounds to build deep and lasting relationships: through meeting, praying and sharing together.
There will be an environment in which church leaders and members meet with mutual respect, equality and love in order to address the wider needs of the Kingdom.
Congregations from black and white-led churches will join together for service to the local community and to address issues of injustice.
Churches across our communities will recognise the value and contribution of all churches, in particular those of different ethnic origins.
There will be a significant increase in knowledge, communication and general awareness between churches with different ethnic backgrounds, in particular black and white-led churches churches.
Leaders of new and established churches will proactively ensure that people of different ethnic backgrounds are represented at every level of decision-making in the life of our churches and will be accountable for putting this into practical action.
All church leaders will place issues of racial justice and inclusion on the agendas of their church councils and policy-making bodies.

Transforming Society

Decision-making bodies of churches affiliated to CTGB/T4B, or similar organisations to research, adopt and implement equal opportunities policies within our employment and recruitment procedures.
Church leaders and members will be provided with racial equality training, to provide the tools to challenge and change policies.
Church leaders and congregations should be equipped, empowered and eager to engage together in public and seek opportunities to promote racial justice within our communities including: the Education system, Prisons, Mental health care and provision, and Family support
Churches and individuals will be aware of organisations and charities that are working for racial justice and actively support them.

Engagement with Faith Leaders

We organise events with faith leaders throughout the city to engage them, share food, laugh, strategies, pray and encourage one another.
Every year, we provide events that incorporate a holistic approach, at our gatherings we focus on mental health, bereavement, and self-care.
This forum is currently set up to meet twice a year and takes part in association with other churches and organisations working towards making Bristol a City of Hope.

How to get involved

To get more information and get involved contact:

keyboardnetworker a_t gmail d_o_t com

Latest Keyboard News and Events

Protest Display Opens at M Shed Bristol

the Bristol Legacy Foundation: a new chapter in our city's journey in grappling with the legacies of slavery...

Keyboard Networker Statement

Due to funding constraints, the keyboard networker position will end in April 2023, thank for walking with me...

Keyboard Trust Bristol - Final Report April 2023

As racial justice continues to be a pressing issue in our society, it has become increasingly important for the Keyboard Trust and Together4Bristol to contribute to promoting equality and combating discrimination.

Happy Healthy Peaceful Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

from CTGB Together4Bristol, Enabling Cttee, Trustees, Keyboard Trust, Steering Committee and Staff

Keyboard Networker Report - November 2022

The Keyboard Trust has expanded its work over the past year by engaging with and collaborating with individuals and organisations in and outside of Bristol.