Comic Relief has unveiled ten organisations to share £2.8m for projects tackling racial inequities.
This is the second phase of Comic Relief’s Global Majority programme, which is run in partnership with the National Emergencies Trust, Barclays, The Clothworkers’ Foundation and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. It brings the total amount targeted at diverse communities that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 to over £6m.
Last week the Ubele Initiative warned that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community organisations were at risk of closing services as emergency funding ran out.
Comic Relief said it had received a high number of applications and is offering unsuccessful applicants workshops to help develop skills and tools to strengthen their future funding opportunities.
Ten intermediary partners (details below) have now been granted between £179,000 and £360,000 to distribute to community projects involved in the community response.
Jacqueline Onalo, trustee of Comic Relief, said:
“This funding programme is a vital and long overdue way of reaching key smaller projects that are a lifeline to many marginalised people who are most at risk during the pandemic. The Global Majority Fund is innovating our grants processes, and putting leaders with lived experiences at the forefront. I am proud of the hundreds of projects already funded by our first phase and I look forward to seeing the great work delivered across the UK by our new £2.8 million programme.
“In addition to this fund, Comic Relief is continuing to expand this important work by supporting The Baobab Foundation, the UK’s first grant-making foundation, led by and for communities experiencing racial inequity.”
The 10 selected intermediary partner charities are:
o Do It Now Now: Awarded: £360,000. The UK-wide organisation is set to fund Black-led charity social enterprises that provide services to people that have been adversely affected by Covid.
o Migrant Centre Northern Ireland: Awarded: £179,400. The Northern Ireland based charity is set to fund projects providing access to emergency support with accessing food banks, mental health services and bereavement support.
o Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights: Awarded: £288,000. The Scotland-based charity will be funding projects tackling food poverty as well as mental health services, healthcare inequalities, gender based violence and homelessness.
o Women’s Resource Centre in partnership with Black Training & Enterprise Group (BTEG): Awarded: £276,000.They will fund smaller led by and for, Black and minoritised women’s organisations which provide domestic abuse and violence against women and girls support.
o BME Health Forum: Awarded: £288,000. The London-based charity will fund community led advice and advocacy, emotional and mental health support, digital inclusion and improved access to food, medicine and health services.
o Lancashire BME Network: Awarded: £288,000. The charity will provide frontline services such as emergency food parcels, befriending and wellbeing activities, and addressing digital exclusion across Lancashire.
o Africa Advocacy Foundation: Awarded: £288,000. The charity is set to fund London based projects supporting Black migrant communities affected by racial injustice, violence, poverty, disability, and mental ill-health.
o Caribbean and African Health Network: Awarded: £288,000. The Greater Manchester-based charity will support projects that help increase inclusion, and reduce loneliness and isolation.
o Race Council Cymru in partnership with BAWSO and the Welsh Refugee Council: Awarded: £318,000. Across Wales, projects that break down barriers, promote participation and community cohesion and integration, will be funded, and
o Muslim Charities Forum: Awarded: £288,000. The charity will fund a range of projects providing mental health, skills and education services plus essential needs (eg food provision).
For further information about its Global Majority programme, please visit the Comic Relief website.
Image: The Welsh Refugee Council, which , in partnership
with the Race Council Cymru and BAWSO, has been awarded
a grant of £318,000 for projects that break down barriers,
promote participation and community cohesion and
integration across Wales.
Source: Civil Society News