African Health Policy Network: BAME Healthy Communities Surviving COVID-19 Grants

Overview

COVID-19 has exposed the depth and breadth of health inequalities across the UK. BAME organisations, communities and individuals have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, and also by the range of intersecting issues that existed prior to and will outlast Covid-19. Research by The Ubele Initiative www.ubele.org has shown how many years of reduced funding to organisations led by and serving BAME communities have adversely impacted frontline support and left many small organisations at risk of closure, with all the implications for clients that this brings.

The important work of Charitysowhite https://charitysowhite.org has shown that funding historically has not been directed towards those working with underserved communities where the need is clearly at its greatest. Research by the Mental Health Foundation www.mentalhealth.org.uk has shown a marked divergence in the mental health and wellbeing impacts of the pandemic with BAME communities faring worst.

With this fund they want to help small and medium sized BAME groups and their communities build wellbeing, resilience and capacity through their various funded projects following the pandemic.

Their Priorities

They are particularly interested in supporting wellbeing projects by BAME led organisations that demonstrate that they are also people/service user centred.

They are interested in learning how the people you work with are involved in the design and delivery of your project.

• How have they influenced your project and how will they continue to shape its delivery?
• How will you utilise the skills and experiences of the people you work with?

They want to know about the reach of your project, whether you are reaching, for example BAME LGBTQi communities, those with no recourse to public funds or those living with disabilities or long-term conditions. Perhaps you are working with those seeking asylum or refuge.

They want to know how you have been serving your beneficiaries since the start of the pandemic and how your project will make a real difference to their health and wellbeing as they journey through these difficult times.

They also want to learn how your project is connected with other relevant organisations and how your idea complements what they may be doing.

There is no single definition of what a BAME led organisation is. For the purposes of this fund a BAME led organisation is a voluntary or community organisation, a charity or other form of social enterprise having a majority of its governing body (or staff make-up) from BAME communities, with its services designed, targeted and delivered to BAME communities.

What Grants are available?

Option 1 - Grants up to £5,000

They will fund projects by those smaller locally rooted BAME organisations that have been providing critical support to people at a community level to ensure that during this crucial pandemic /post pandemic phase grass roots BAME organisations can continue to work for their communities and survive the pandemic/post-pandemic period.

Under this fund groups with annual incomes below £50,000 can apply for up to £5,000.

Option 2 - Grants up to £10,000

They will provide a slightly enhanced fund for BAME led organisations that may be better surviving the constraints brought on by the pandemic and are looking at developing projects focusing on ways in which to work with their communities to rebuild and reimagine the future in respect of their supportive work in the wake of Covid-19.

Under this fund groups with annual incomes between £50,000 - £150,000 can apply for up to £10,000.

Option 3 - Micro-grants

Given the impact of the pandemic they also want to be flexible with their granting amounts. Where organisations would like to apply for micro-grants of between £500 to £1000 for capacity building purposes, they will be able to make quick decisions following a short application form and Zoom interview.

If you would like to apply for a Micro-grant of between £500-£1,000 for capacity building purposes please go back to the website for full details: https://www.ahpn.org.uk/micro-grants

Groups and organisations working across the UK can apply and all funds must be utilised within six months of receipt. Some groups may be doing valuable work but may be un-constituted. They are committed to supporting groups such as these, though they will be looking for sound governance structures and credible fund holding partners (e.g. a registered charity or organisation).

It is unlikely that they will fund groups or organisations with annual turnover of more than 150k.

Who can apply?

• Voluntary and community organisations 
• Registered charities
• Charitable incorporated organisations 
• Faith groups
• Constituted but unincorporated clubs/associations
• Community interest company
• Constituted community groups
• If you are not a constituted group, do not have a bank account, or your organisation is new - you can still apply via a host organisation which is one of the above.

What can the funding be used for?

They can fund:

• Project staff salaries
• Project activities
• Engagement activities
• Running costs
• Project equipment

Capacity and Support

They want to support successful applicants throughout both the granting and the delivery process. Groups applying for micro-grants of £500 -£1000 will be invited to put forward their capacity building needs e.g. developing better organisational governance through, perhaps, review of safeguarding policies and procedures, becoming constituted, or enabling trustee training etc. They will assist with support and signposting here.

Holders of small grants (£5000 and under) will be invited to ‘one on one’ Zoom sessions with their Grant Administrators so that issues around building capacity can be raised and addressed in conjunction with their project delivery.

Holders of grants over £5000 will be invited to take part in joint grantee forums held around the intersecting ideas around rebuilding and sustainability after Covid-19 and where the wider vision of the role of the BAME voluntary sector can be re-thought and organisations can access mutual support.