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Our Team
Breaking Barriers, Building Futures

Vinna Best

Pronouns: She / Her / Hers

Meet Vinna, the founder of Dear Black Women and Girls CIC, as a passionate social entrepreneur with a diverse background in tech, community building, events, and business, she recognised the need to establish a Black women-led social enterprise to address the intersectional challenges faced by Black women and girls in the UK – Dear Black Women and Girls Community Interest Company (CIC). Over the last 10 years, Vinna has drawn from her own personal experiences and those of other Black women and girls, bringing positive change to their lives. And now, she’s ready to expand her reach even further through Dear Black Women and Girls.

With a background in the non-profit sector, she has been a part of impacting countless lives through her work, providing business support to a broad range of CICs and charities such as Barnardo’s, the UK’s leading children’s charity, and Sense, a charity for people with complex disabilities. Vinna’s passion for change has driven her to raise awareness and increase giving through digital platforms for initiatives including deafblindness, fostering and adoption, female genital mutilation, and LGBTQIA awareness. With her dedication to helping underrepresented communities, Vinna uses her skills to bring hope and positivity to the communities she serves.

Vinna holds a first class BSc in Multimedia Technology with honours and has 20 years of experience in tech, digital comms, content writing, marketing, and training. Throughout her career, Vinna has honed her skills in using digital platforms and tools to include building and managing websites, achieving marketing goals, reaching relevant communities and delivering impactful training programmes. 

Also, Vinna is a seasoned events professional with 15 years of experience in the industry. She initially developed her passion for events as part of her role working with the TechUK’s events team, where she was responsible for delivering the digital aspects of various tech workshops, conferences, festivals, and summits across the United Kingdom.

Through her involvement in these events, Vinna gained valuable experience in bringing to life her own event in 2013. CURLYTREATS Festival, the UK’s biggest event focused on Black hair, history, and heritage. 

Chelsee Braithwaite

Pronouns: She / Her / Hers

Meet Chelsee, she has an impressive background in community support and advocacy.

As a previous Probation Service Officer and Victim Liaison Officer, she managed hundreds of high-risk cases and advocated for victims while maintaining accurate records. Later, she became a Women’s Community Wrap Around Keyworker, providing in-reach and through-the-gate support to women released from custody and offering holistic one to one support and advocacy.

Chelsee has a strong commitment to those she served, demonstrated by her development of individual support plans and her efforts to prevent harm and carry out safeguarding duties. She also has skills in enhancing relationships and creating new networks to improve multi-agency working.

Chelsee has been an essential member of our team for the past 10 years, she has been instrumental in the delivery of activities and events across the UK, even before the official formation of Dear Black Women and Girls CIC. Chelsee has a Bachelor’s degree in Event Management.

Sara Benjamin

Pronouns: She / Her / Hers

Meet Sara, she is a forward thinking local community leader. She received the 2022 “Community Organiser” award in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and has made a lasting impact through her initiatives.

Sara established a seniors’ club, organises trips for the elderly and organises food banks to address social issues in her local community, demonstrating her passion and drive.

Her commitment to creating a better community has inspired many around her. With exceptional interpersonal skills and a strong work ethic, she addresses the community’s needs and brings people together to achieve their goals. 

In addition, Sara is a certified Mental Health First Aider and an advocate for mental wellness. She has dedicated her time and expertise to educate and empower her local community on the importance of taking care of their mental health and recognising the signs of distress in others.

Sara is a valuable asset to our team. She has played a key role in delivering activities and events to Black women and girls across the UK, even before the establishment of the Dear Black Women and Girls CIC. Her contributions have made a significant impact in the lives of many.

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