Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Infrastructure Fund to increase to £1m

THE FUND IS NOW CLOSED TO APPLICATIONS

For all enquires relating to this fund please contact 01529 305825

The UKCF team and our independent decision making panel are pleased to announce that our BAME Infrastructure Fund is to be increased from £250,000 to £1m in total.

The increase is thanks to additional support for the work and longer term aims of the fund from our partners at the National Emergencies Trust (NET), who approved the substantial top up of £750,000 on Wednesday 26th of August. These further funds will in the majority support applications from the significant backlog received following awards made from the initial £250,000.

NET’s extra funding allocation is in direct response to the high demand and wide ranging scope for local infrastructure support in the continuing emergency voiced by BAME organisations across the UK. Since the call for applications went out on the 7th July well over 100 organisations supporting BAME communities and groups across the UK have reached out to us seeking support from the fund, describing and articulating the nature of the challenges and barriers they face in supporting and connecting marginalised communities with our collective and the wider landscape of funders.

In addition to the extra funding for the BAME Infrastructure Fund, a Coronavirus Appeal donation of £500,000 from the Health Foundation is being distributed to a number of community foundations across England to support those from BAME communities.

Speaking on behalf of the fund’s panel Dr Radha Modgil, practising GP and campaigner said:

I am extremely proud to be able to announce this top up to the fund alongside my panel colleagues. The small but vital organisations that support our BAME communities at the local level across the UK have expressed their concerns and needs clearly through this emergency, and I am so happy that we are able to play our part in better enabling them to do the necessary work and to build stronger more equitable relationships of trust for the future.

Mhairi Sharp, COO, National Emergencies Trust, said:

The high demand for the infrastructure fund not only highlights the continuing need created by the pandemic but the opportunity to better connect BAME communities and groups with wider funding streams.

Our hope is that the funding will contribute towards creating a stronger, fairer sector network for future emergencies and for non-crisis situations, so that everyone is able to access the support they need. I’d like to thank UKCF’s BAME infrastructure fund panel for their tireless efforts in ensuring that Coronavirus Appeal funds continue to be distributed efficiently and equitably

The fund will close to new applications on the 5th September. Supported organisations will be sustained and enabled to work well into the continuing emergency with our communities most disproportionately negatively impacted by the virus.