Executive Office: Minority Ethnic Development Fund 2022/23 – 25

Overview

The Minority Ethnic Development Fund (MEDF) provides support for voluntary and community organisations working with minority ethnic people and groups. The aim of the Fund is to assist minority ethnic and local community organisations to promote good relations between people of different ethnic backgrounds.

Whilst the MEDF has previously operated on an annual basis, in line with review recommendations, funding will now be multi annual and applications are being invited for a three year period.

Applications are now being sought for the funding period 1 April 2022 – 31 March 2025.

Aims of the fund

The fund will support work which contributes to the promotion of good relations between people of different ethnic backgrounds, the building of community cohesion, and promotion of integration. The specific outcomes that we want to see are:

• Outcome 1: Equality of Service Provision: People from a minority ethnic background can access and benefit from all public services equally.
• Outcome 2: Elimination of prejudice, racism and hate crime
• Outcome 3: Increased participation, representation and belonging: People from minority ethnic backgrounds participate in and are represented fully in all aspects of life and enjoy a sense of “belonging”.
• Outcome 4: Cultural diversity is celebrated: The rights of people from minority ethnic backgrounds to maintain their culture and traditions in line with human rights norms and to pass them on to subsequent generations are recognised and supported.

For an application to be successful, it must contribute to one or more of the above outcomes, depending on the tier of funding applied for.

Funding Categories

Funding awards will fall into three broad categories or ‘tiers’:

Tier 1

• Tier 1a

Funding awards between £100 - £5,000.

Awards may be for one-off events/projects to be delivered in the first year of the Fund only (22/23) or for projects lasting for the full three years (2022-2025).

One off projects must be delivered and full expenditure incurred by 31 March 2023. Applications must be for activity that will contribute to achieving one of the outcomes set out above.

Applicants may include volunteer led groups. The maximum award that may be made for any proposal under Tier 1a is £5,000 per annum. Proposals costed above £5,000 per annum will not be considered.

• Tier 1b

Funding awards between £5,000.01 - £10,000.

Same as above - awards may be for one-off events/projects to be delivered in the first year of the Fund only (22/23) or for projects lasting for the full three years (2022-2025). One off projects must be delivered and full expenditure incurred by 31 March 2023.

However, applications must be for activity that will contribute to achieving two of the outcomes set out above. Applicants may include volunteer led groups.

Tier 1 (a & b) will be open to applications once, however this will be kept under review and may reopen for applications.

Tier 2

• Tier 2a

Funding awards between £10,000.01 - £30,000 per annum.

• Tier 2b

Funding awards between £30,000.01 - £45,000 per annum.

Funding is intended to meet central management, development and administrative costs and thereby enable organisations to develop and provide services and projects.

Tier 2 will be open to applications once with funding running from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2025.

Tier 3

• Tier 3a

Funding awards between £45,000.01 - £60,000 per annum.

• Tier 3b

Funding awards between £60,000.01 - £75,000 per annum.

Funding is intended to meet central management, development and administrative costs and thereby enable organisations to develop and provide services and projects.

Tier 3 applications must also include clear proposals to provide a mentoring role with smaller or less experienced organisations and/or to work collaboratively with others in the sector.

Tier 3 will be open to applications once with funding running from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2025.

Further guidance is available on their website.