OPEN LETTER: RELIEF PACKAGES FOR THE CHARITABLE SECTOR
We are no longer taking signatures for this open letter. Our focus is now on recovery and rebuild.
Now more than ever, the charity sector must put “at risk” communities at the heart of their work. The choices made by us today will have a lasting impact for generations to come. We need to work together, openly acknowledging the power and racial imbalances inherent in our sector, and seize the opportunity to set a new precedent for the future.
In the aftermath of Grenfell we saw emergency funding diverted to large, non-BAME charities. These charities, already the most resilient and best positioned to raise funds continued to thrive, whilst small, local BAME-led groups who were on the front lines leading relief efforts were sidelined. Unless we act now, history will repeat itself, this time with even more grave and long lasting consequences.
We are no longer asking who receives funding to provide relief but who will be allowed to exist in a post COVID 19 society.
BAME VCS groups entered the COVID-19 crisis under-funded and under-valued by the charitable sector, despite being the best placed to reach those our sector tries hard to reach. It is estimated there are between 9,000 -10,000 BAME charities and community groups operating nationally, 65% of which have an average turnover of less than 10k annually. A number of groups including Voice4Change, the Ubele Initiative, Future Foundations UK, and #CharitySoWhite through their recent paper have highlighted that the services provided by small BAME VCS groups are more in demand than ever as they lead the sector’s frontline response to the crisis.
COVID-19 is set to disproportionately impact BAME communities, with devastating impact likely across a wide range of issues. BAME VCS groups must be at the heart of decision making in any relief package to the sector.
Our relief efforts must not reinforce the mistakes of the past. Across the country we have seen the traditional rule book is being ripped up. Now is the time for the charity sector to do the same. Acknowledge the power you have to do something different and give the BAME VCS sector a seat at the table. We urgently call all those involved in the relief package discussions to:
Ensure that there are at least two individuals on steering or oversight groups for funding set up who have a significant track record of championing race equality in funding.
Ensure 20% of funding is ring fenced for BAME VCS Groups, managed directly by BAME Infrastructure organisations.
We urge you to be brave and bold, make choices that will ensure the most vulnerable and in need organisations are protected in this crisis. This is the time to remember that we all exist to support those in need. It is time to role model the values we say we live by, act in solidarity with others in the sector without the same access to decision makers, and ensure we all emerge from this crisis set up to continue our work for years to come.
Signatories,
#CharitySoWhite
Voice4Change England
Future Foundations U.K.
The Equality Trust
Race on the Agenda
Ubele Initiative
Grant Givers Movement
Sheila McKechnie Foundation
Doing Social
SAFE Communities Project
Faith and VAWG Coalition
Equity Sport
Bloody Good Period
SignHealth
Stonewall
Chartered Institute of Fundraising
#POCIMPACT
End Violence Against Women Coalition
DO IT Foundation
The Mentor Ring
Imkaan
The Albert Kennedy Trust
Inclusion London
Raising Futures Kenya
Women’s Aid Federation England
ACEVO
Girls Friendly Society
Coffee Afrik CIC
Family foundation
Institute of Fundraising
Kanlungan Filipino Consortium
BlackOut UK
GMSP Foundation
The Black Curriculum
Afghanistan and Central Asian Association
Respect UK
Women's Resource Centre
Do it Now Now
NAZ
Sunderland Black and Minority Ethnic Network Limited
All Inclusive Training
Migrants Rights Network
Panahghar
The Pankhurst Trust (Incorporating Manchester Women’s Aid)
Migrants At Work Ltd.
Right to Remain
Blossom Foundation
Olive Pathway
Latin American’s Women’s aid
De Butterfly CIC
Safe Passage International
Unity School Support for African Families
London Wildlife Trust
Latin American Women's Rights Services (LAWRS)
Step Up Migrant Women campaign
SEAS - Socially Engaged Art Salon / BMECP Centre, Brighton
Caring and Sharing Organisation
Ten Years Time
Birthrights
All Ways Network
Birth Companions
Love for the Streets
United Borders
Amnesty International UK
The Finance Innovation Lab
Pursuing Independent Paths
GAD Khalsa Sports Community organisation
Pro Bono Economics
Sing Inside
Against Violence and Abuse (AVA) Project
Platypus Digital
Why me? Victims for Restorative Justice
Teen Action
The Charity Retail Consultancy
BoingBoing
Equal Lives
Adeela Warley- Charity Comms
Lily Lewis - Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust
Siobhan Corria - Action For Children
Paul de Gregorio - Rally
Debbie Ariyo - AFRUCA
Sage Stephanou - Collective Mind Space
Callsuma Ali - @bereavementroom
Charlotte Davies - Swansea MAD
Nazmin Akthar, Co-Chair of Muslim Women's Network UK
Emily Morshuis, London Wildlife Trust
Frances Wilde, Warner Wilde Limited
Kai Adams, Partner, Charities & Social Enterprise, Green Park
Councillor Maurice Mcleod, Queenstown Battersea / Vice-Chair of Race on the Agenda
Mani Ray, The National Lottery Community Fund/2027 Associate
Lara Holy, The Trans Emergency Resource Fund Munich
Safia Boot, Respect at Work
Shanelle Webb, The Soul Shack
Dr. Rehena Harilall, Evolve
Thomas Lawson, Turn2Us
Josina Calliste, LION (Land In Our Names)
Jane Firmin, Women’s Aid in Luton
Venessa Bob - A 2nd Voice CIC
Rose Ssali- Chair, Mama Health and Poverty Partnership
Julia Wysocka - International Community Organisation of Sunderland (ICOS)
Helen Sanson - Forcera CIC
Bob Thrust - Partner - Practical Governance
Ehinor Otaigbe-Amedu - CEO - Wonderfully Made Woman
Emma Kendon – Great Appeal
Paul Reddish - CEO - Volunteering Matters
Dr Charlotte Augst, CEO, National Voices
Dr. Gil Mualem-Doron, Artist
Akiko Hart, CEO, National Survivor User Network (NSUN)
Naana Otoo- Oyortey - Forward UK
Debra Allcock Tyler - Chief Exec - Directory of Social Change
Ruth Sullivan - Bright Young Carers
Annette Morris - Leeds BME Hub
Emma Thomas - Chief Executive of YoungMinds
Sarah Hughes, CEO, Centre for Mental Health
Sarah Jones, Chief Executive, Mencap Liverpool & Sefton
Noreen Blanluet, Co-production Network for Wales
Liz Pepler, Embrace Finance
Orin Lewis, OBE, Chief Executive, ACLT
Dr Richard Piper, CEO, Alcohol Change UK
Mike Bartlett, Chartered Institute of Fundraising South West Regional Group
Lucy Russell, The Lucidity Coach
Kevin Hunter, Fundraising Manager, Exeter Community Initiatives
Elaine Pearson-Scott, CEO, AIVCCS
Tom Northey, Director, Con Brio Consulting Ltd
James Fitzpatrick
Meena Kumari
Pari Dhillon
Ruby Bayley-Pratt
Rosie Oldham
Stacey Kelly-Maher
Lucy Caldicott
Simon Blake
Tereza Litsa
Catherine Gardner
Kris Tan
Fezzan Ahmed
Shaheen Sutton
Mani Ray
Mandy Johnson
Francis Wight
Patricia Hamzahee
Darshan Sanghrajka
Isabel Perez Doherty
Erika Brodnock
Sonia Dunand
Alexander Leon
Rashda Tabassum
Sabah Choudrey
Emmanuelle Andrews
Nikki Squelch
Sue Johnson
Jamila Thomas
Ruth O’ Gorman
Vishnee Sauntoo
Sinéad O’Connor
Henna Patel
Caroline Taylor-Beswick
Ruth Ogunji
Memory Nyahunzwi
Olu Alake
Sarah Naish
Cassandra Harrison
Shilpa Shah
Chira Fairbairn
Rebecca Markus
Lucy Radford
Helen Kinney
Adeola Gbakinro
Marwa Belghazi
Isaac Salzano
Jessica Burt
Wendy Micklewright
David Lacey
Kivlan Legate
Yusuf Joseph
Clare Davison
Thomas Shorrock
Jennie Payne
Matt Collins
Ruth Ibegbuna
Kate Kellaway-Moore
Sammi-Beth Clarke
Meg Briody
Anjeli Shah
This letter is open for new signatories, if you or your organisation or group would like to sign please email us on charitysowhite@gmail.com or contact us via our Twitter page (@charitysowhite).
We will be updating the signatories regularly.
