Covid aid for BAME groups

AS MANY as 159 black, Asian and and minority ethnic (BAME)-led organisations in the UK will get £7 million funding from a Covid-19 crisis fund.

The aid will be provided by the London community response fund administered by charity funder City Bridge Trust, in partnership with the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF).

“BAME communities already suffering injustice, inequality and disadvantage have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic, and voluntary and community groups are often left to pick up the pieces,” said Dhruv Patel, chairman of City Bridge Trust committee.

The funding will help organisations deliver “life-saving support”, he added. Patel noted the impact of food banks, mental health services and support for domestic violence victims in communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

The London community response fund, part of the wider London community response, has given more than £25m since March. The NLCF committed £7m, of which £3.9m went to BAME-led groups.

Southall Black Sisters (SBS), which works to challenge domestic and gender-related violence against BAME women, saw a nearly 200 per cent surge in calls and online enquiries when the first lockdown lifted.

SBS was awarded a £48,517 grant for a triage system delivered via a chat app, to ensure women in need of support got the assistance they required.

The Henna Asian Women’s Group in Kilburn received a £36,500 grant for a mental health project offering online and phone counselling, group and art therapy for women heavily impacted by Covid-19.

Islington-based the Big House will use its £49,751 grant for a project entitled the Hot House, which will give young BAME people a chance to take part in arts, drama and creative activities, a statement said.