Listening, Learning, and Acting Together
Building trust doesn’t happen overnight. It begins by listening to communities, understanding their experiences, and working together to develop practical solutions. Funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent (OPCC), Dúdú Heritage CIC launched this project to strengthen relationships between African and ethnically diverse communities and public services across Newport.
The project has followed a simple but powerful journey, where:
1. We Listened
Our first Community Listening Session (held on the 16th of may, 2026) created a safe space for over 70 community members to openly share their experiences, concerns and hopes. Together we explored:
- Building trust in public services
- Safeguarding and cultural understanding
- Bullying in schools and workplaces
- Hate crime and barriers to reporting
- Community safety
- Understanding rights and available support
Rather than assuming what communities needed, we listened first. The strongest message was clear: People want to be heard, understood and included in decisions that affect them.
2. We Learned Together
Using the priorities identified during Session 1, we designed a second listening session (on the 27th of June, 2026) that focused on deeper conversations. Participants explored:
- Building trust with public services
- Safeguarding and healthy relationships
- Domestic abuse and coercive control
- Hate crime awareness
- Community safety
- Practical solutions for stronger communities
- The discussions were open, respectful and solution-focused.
One of the highlights of the session was the opportunity for community members to contribute recommendations towards Newport City Council’s emerging Hate Crime Policy, ensuring that lived experiences help shape future local approaches to community safety and inclusion.
3. We Are Taking Action
The project now moves into its final stage. On 1 August 2026, community members will meet directly with representatives from:
- Office of Police and Crimes Commission
- Newport City Council
- Social services
- Other public service partners
And together, we will:
- Share what communities told us.
- Discuss practical solutions.
- Strengthen trust and relationships.
- Explore how these conversations continue beyond the life of this project.
