A Year in KIN 2025
As 2025 comes to a close, here is a roundup of what we’ve been up to and what’s to come.
2025
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This year has been focused on fundraising and infrastructure development. We welcomed two new team members, Katherine (Operations Manager) and Hannah (Operations Assistant), who have shared reflections below on their time with KIN so far;
“KIN has reaffirmed how I understand leadership and collaboration - a place where Black feminist values can be truly lived, and where working in alignment feels possible. It's been a powerful reminder that care, integrity and principles can shape not only the work, but the way we work with each other.” - Katherine
“Working with KIN this year has been such a learning experience. It's been amazing to be part of a team actively working to live in line with our values. I'm so grateful to be a part of this community.” - Hannah
Image from our Team Vision Day.
Programme
Town Hall
Across 2025, we hosted four Town Hall events facilitated by our Network. Our seasonal Town Hall brings together Black activists and organisers together to connect, strategise and learn from each other. We discussed topics selected by the Network such as;
Burnout, Bills, Boundaries - How do we continue acts of liberation while also maintaining checks and balances? What is the infrastructure needed to sustain ourselves without losing our intention for freedom?
What is authenticity? - What does authenticity mean within the Black community? How do we navigate it in the face of the far right tension as well as standing in our pride, power and openness for our culture?
If you’re interested in becoming a co-facilitator for the 2026 event series, please send us an email info@kinfolknetwork.com
Summer Solidarity Sessions
Facilitated by our Network, our Summer Solidarity sessions in July brought together Black activists together across four topics; International Solidarity, Collective Grief Tending, Joyful & Creative Abolition and Strategising for Community Safety. In response to this series, we’ve developed a Toolkit.
Convening
We held our Annual Convening in September, bringing 50 Black activists from across the UK together in Manchester for deep connection. We’ve pulled together various resources which tell the story of the day, including a rundown, short film and podcast.
“Hearing the work and struggles of people, but also actionable ways to change and knowing I'm not alone. Lots of the discussions helped me think through things, they were very relevant!” - Quote from an Attendee
Medicines: Lessons in Black Economic Interdependence
Our collaboration with Decolonising Economics continued with events taking place in Bristol, Glasgow and online exploring African centred economic practices.
For the second phase of the project we brought together 10 Black activists in October for a retreat in Somerset, inspired by the legacy of Maroon communities in places like Haiti and Brazil - autonomous communities formed by people who escaped enslavement and built lives rooted in resistance, care, and interdependence.
Through the Experiments in Marronage programme, we are providing Black organisers and activists with tools, space, and collective support to envision and build nourishing economic futures.
Image by Natalya Ren
Resources
We recently announced our Podcast platform, where we invite Black organisers into conversation to share their knowledge, rooted in Black liberation. Let us know what you think!
2026
Resources
Building upon our work in 2025, we will collaborate with our Network by commissioning new resources, such as podcasts, toolkits and blog posts.
Programme
We will continue to develop and deliver core programme spaces - our Town Hall and Annual Convening, as well as undertaking research and development to deepen our offerings.
The political education programme in collaboration with Decolonising Economics will culminate with an event, and the development of a project archive.
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In 2026, we continue to build our capacity as an organisation, experimenting with sustainable ways of working grounded within Black Feminist Praxis.
