To achieve our aim, the objectives driving the programme design and delivery were: 1. To impart new skills to enable younger and older leaders to tackle and navigate the complex challenges that their organisations and communities face by strengthening the capacity of individual organisations to anticipate threat, plan for change and develop new initiatives; 2. To provide a sustained and intensive learning programme to diverse (race/ethnicity, gender and age) groups delivered through international learning programmes; 3. To develop leadership skills and competencies through gaining new knowledge, insights and understandings of how to effect deep personal, group, organisational, community based and societal change; 4. To provide dedicated programmes to BME women, emerging and older leaders to ensure that their specific leadership needs are met; 5. To develop pan-European connections and partnerships to meet identified development needs both now and in the future 6. To share good practice and create future opportunities to facilitate transnational and international partners' learning.
The overarching aim of the Ubuntu Social Leaders Academy (Ubuntu) programme was to grow groups of skilled community leaders, social activists and change agents from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BME) communities nationally, delivered through an intergenerational community-based solution approaches that cannot be resolved by one generation alone. Ubele’s primary aim is the development and sustainability of BME communities and community assets; that is, emerging and older leaders of community and voluntary sector organisations. It seeks to do this through the Erasmus funded programme by creating intergenerational groups of skilled and effective social leaders. BME learners often find themselves excluded from EU learning opportunities due to most community-based leaders being volunteers and not able to fund course fees, international travel, accommodation and food. Additionally, vulnerability and fear of harassment when finding themselves as sole participants on European programmes.