The Africa Academy, Muslim Charities Forum and Migrant Centre Northern Ireland are among ten organisations that have been awarded a share of £2.8m.
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 BAME community organisations were at risk of closing services as emergency funding ran out.
Ten intermediary partners (full 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 grantmaking foundation, led by and for communities experiencing racial inequity.”
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.
Bayo Adelaja, CEO of Do It Now Now, which has received £360,000 fund Black-led charity social enterprises that provide services to people that have been adversely affected by Covid-19, said: "Organisations are facing a funding deficit that significantly affects the long term sustainability and impact of their work within the underserved communities they focus on. Covid forced us to reckon with the consequence of allowing Black-led organisations to fall away due to a lack of accessible finance. Through this Comic Relief funding, we are able to continue supporting Black-led organisations working in communities across the country.”
The selected 10 intermediary partner charities are:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Race Council Cymru in partnership with BAWSO and Welsh Refugee Council: Awarded: £318,000. Across Wales, projects that break down barriers, promote participation and community cohesion and integration, will be funded.
- 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).
Related articles
