Business Advice, Support & Information

Black Development Agency

BDA was set up to be a CVS for BME voluntary and community sector organisations. The Black Development Agency (BDA), also referred to as ‘the Agency’, was established in 1992 and is the leading BME 2nd tier infrastructure organisation in the South West. The need for such an organisation was identified in the "Bristol Black Voluntary Sector Strategy" consultation commissioned by Bristol City Council and Avon County Council in 1992. Further evidence of need was identified following the Review of Voluntary Community Sector Infrastructure Organisations, Bristol City Council 2002. In the last five years, BDA has developed considerable experience and a positive local reputation for working in real partnership with the BME VCS, promoting community involvement, community cohesion and self-help. Integral to this has been an increased acknowledgement and acceptance of our key role in working with statutory agencies, mainstream voluntary organisations and cross-sector partnerships within Bristol and across the South West.