BEN is established to promote equality of opportunity with respect to ethnic communities in the preservation protection and development of the environment.

Black Environment Network uses the word "black" symbolically recognising that the black communities are the most visible of all ethnic groups. We work with white, black and other ethnic communities.
BEN works to enable full ethnic participation in the built and natural environment. We are positioned as a catalyst for change. The services, resources and expertise within the mainstream are enormous. There is no way in which a parallel provision can be set up. In order to benefit fully, ethnic participation must therefore be enabled to access everything that the mainstream has to offer. We do not intend to provide a permanent service for ethnic communities. All our projects are developmental and strategic. On the one hand we reach out to ethnic communities in order to stimulate participation. On the other hand we work to support mainstream organisations so that they may gain the necessary awareness and skills to work effectively with ethnic communities in a socially and culturally relevant way. The ultimate measure of our success is to do ourselves out of a job!

Natural environment
Built environment
Heritage
Social justice
Health
Housing
Training and Consultancy
Ethnic participation