A fund for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community groups in Brighton & Hove is being launched on 13 July.
The Engagement Fund will support projects that improve the well-being of BAME residents and promote fairness.
Groups can apply for grants of up to £2,000 to help with running costs and activities.
Councillor Carmen Appich, the chair of the Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture Committee, said:
“This funding is specifically aimed at improving well-being and promoting fairness for BAME communities in the city as part of our work to tackle inequality.
“Coronavirus has had a disproportionate impact on BAME residents and shone a light on the inequalities endured by BAME residents.
“Our city is super diverse, and I want to make sure that our BAME community groups have access to funding they need.
“As well as having a specific funding stream dedicated to BAME groups, using feedback from community and voluntary sector partners, officers have reviewed the application process to make it as accessible as possible.”
Councillor Marianna Ebel, Green opposition spokesperson for of the Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture Committee said:
“It is vital that the council works harder to help eradicate inequalities and injustice towards the city’s Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities.
“A fund that will directly benefit BAME communities is only one of the ways that we can seek to ensure local communities are better supported.
“At this challenging time, this fund aims to offer financial support to the many BAME groups in our city, improving the well-being and promoting fairness for communities; and we warmly encourage groups in the city to apply for this Engagement Fund.”
The fund is open to organisations which:
Information on how to apply will be published on our Community Fund webpages on 13 July at www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/communitiesfund.
Support and advice will be available to help groups interested in applying for a grant.
The deadline for applications is 11 September 2020.
The Engagement Fund is part of the council’s Communities Fund, which supports local community groups, voluntary organisations and not-for-profit social enterprise.
A total of £25,000 is currently available in the Engagement Fund.
The council recognises that there has been a historic lack of ring-fenced investment for BAME groups, that this Engagement Fund sum is limited and is working to identify additional resources.
We are running a BAME Engagement Fund webinar on Tuesday 28 July from 5.30pm to 6.30pm for anyone interested in applying.
If you'd like to attend, please email communitiesteam@brighton-hove.gov.uk and we'll send you the link to the online event. We’d appreciate if you could let us know by 4.30pm on Tuesday if you’d like to attend.
