By Nikki Adebiyi
Founder, Bounce Black
In December 2019, the phrase “Bounce Black” came to mind in a quiet, ordinary moment.
Cross-legged on a bed, reflecting on my own journey, the weight Black people carry needlessly, and the resilience we are so often expected to summon without support.
I was tired.
At the time, I didn’t know exactly what Bounce Black would become. I only knew there was a gap, and that I had fallen through it.
The lack of language, care, and spaces where Black students and professionals could be honest about their wellbeing, their work, and the impact of racism without being pathologised or dismissed.
Five years later, Bounce Black is no longer just an idea.
It is a living, breathing community. One that has grown across borders, disciplines, and seasons.
As the year comes to an end, I’d love to reflect on that journey and what 2025 has represented for Bounce Black…
The Early Years: Name It To Tame It (2019–2022)
Bounce Black officially launched on 10 September 2020 as a content-based psychoeducation platform.
At a time when many of us were navigating pandemic life, worldwide racial reckoning, and workplace precarity, I set out with a focus on giving our community language.
Language for racial trauma.
Language for burnout.
Language for surviving and navigating systems that were never built with us in mind.
Those early years were defined by digital content: blogs, reflections, and educational posts that helped Black students and professionals feel less alone and more equipped to understand their experiences.
Bounce Black quickly became a space where people could say, “This is what I’m going through, and now I have words for it.”
A Shift Towards Community: From Digital to In-Person (2023)
By October 2023, it was clear that Bounce Black needed to move beyond the screen.
On 10 October 2023, I relaunched Bounce Black with an in-person focus, hosting our first live event: ‘Black Women, Work and Wellbeing’.
This marked a turning point. What had lived online now had a physical presence, one rooted in connection, dialogue, and shared healing.
The event set the tone for Bounce Black’s next chapter: intentionally curated spaces that were brave, gentle, and affirming.
Becoming a Social Enterprise & Going Global (2024)
August 2024 was a milestone month.
Bounce Black formally registered as a Community Interest Company (CIC), becoming a legal social enterprise!
This was a significant step in ensuring longevity, accountability, and sustainable impact.
That same month, Bounce Black:
- Received its first £5,000 grant from the Synergi Fund, enabling programme development and expansion
- Hosted its first ever event in New York City, signalling the start of a truly transatlantic presence
What began as a UK-based platform was now resonating with Black professionals and students globally!
2025: The Year of Depth, Delivery, and Momentum
If earlier years were about foundation and growth, 2025 was about delivery.
The Roots: Career Foundations Programme
One of the most significant achievements of 2025 was the successful pilot of the Roots: Career Foundations Programme, thanks to the grant funding.
Roots was designed to support Black students with:
- workplace readiness
- confidence and self-advocacy
- understanding organisational culture without self-erasure
The pilot confirmed what I have always known: when Black students are supported holistically, not just professionally, they can thrive.
Events Across London
Throughout 2025, Bounce Black hosted multiple in-person events in London, bringing together renowned speakers, facilitators, and community voices to explore themes including:
- Black Love, White Flags: Healing the divide between Black men and women
- Roots: Career Foundations Programme Launch
- Roots: Career Foundations Programme Graduation
- Thriving In Your 30s: A Conversation and Celebration
- Presumed Incompetent, Proven Qualified: A Fireside Chat with Shari Dunn
- Five Years of Bounce Black: A Conversation and Celebration
These events deepened Bounce Black’s reputation as a space where conversations are both rigorous and human.
Returning to New York
Building on the success of 2024, Bounce Black hosted its second NYC event, strengthening relationships with US-based partners such as Tavern Coworking Community, BLK and We Met IRL.
The US events reinforced Bounce Black’s ability to translate its ethos across cultural contexts while remaining grounded in shared diasporic experiences.
Resources, Toolkits & Campaigns
2025 also saw the expansion of Bounce Black’s resource library, including:
- whistleblower and organised harassment toolkits
- campaigns such as Project ZER0 and All iZ On Me
- accessible, trauma-informed guidance for Black professionals navigating harm and retaliation at work
These resources extended Bounce Black’s reach far beyond events, offering support at the point of need.
Where We Are Now
Today, Bounce Black is:
- a registered social enterprise
- a trusted partner for organisations and institutions
- a platform with global reach, engaging community members across the UK, US, Canada, Africa and beyond
- a space where healing, ambition, faith, creativity, and justice can coexist
What remains unchanged is the heart of Bounce Black: a commitment to helping Black students and professionals heal, grow, and thrive without shrinking themselves to fit broken systems.
Looking Ahead
As we close out 2025 and celebrate five years of Bounce Black, I am grateful for not just what has been built, but on what is still possible.
The bounce continues, not because resilience is demanded of us, but because support, intention, and collective power make it possible.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
I appreciate you!
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