A NEW emergency fund has opened to grant £1 million to black, Asian and minority ethnic community groups across England.

The Phoenix Fund, organised by the Global Fund for Children (GFC) and The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, opened today.

For years, black, Asian, and minority ethnic organisations have faced systemic barriers to accessing resources to carry out their vital work.

As a result support for BAME leadership and relief efforts is long overdue but there has been a renewed enthusiasm to address underfunding as a result of increased spotlight on inequalities because of the COVID-19 pandemic and protests for racial justice.

“The fund demonstrates that grant-making can be empowering if controlled by BAME grant-makers”

Yvonne Field, founder and CEO at the Ubele Initiative

Survey data from the Ubele Initiative, a convening partner of the Phoenix Fund, shows that nine out of 10 micro and small BAME organisations are at risk of closing within three months due to COVID-19.

This research helped prompt the convening of BAME-led infrastructure and community groups from across England, starting in May 2020 and leading to the co-creation of the Phoenix Fund.

“The Phoenix Fund has the potential to disrupt some of the prevailing ways in which grants are made in the UK. Not only does it promote participatory approaches, which cut through power dynamics inherent in grant-making, but it also facilitates collaboration among an intergenerational group of skilled and experienced BAME leaders who hold deep knowledge of community needs at this challenging time,” said Yvonne Field, founder and CEO at the Ubele Initiative.

“The fund demonstrates that grant-making can be empowering if controlled by BAME grant-makers who will support BAME communities’ access to funding. It offers a unique, system-wide learning opportunity, if lessons learned are listened to and adopted by the wider grant-making system,” Field added.

Now, throughout the UK and worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately affecting BAME organisations and populations, deepening racial inequality and threatening their existence.

Accepting applications

The Phoenix Fund is now accepting grant applications from micro and small BAME-led organisations in England, with a turnover up to £100,000, that are working with people of any age and providing essential and emergency services, support, and education tailored to the BAME community.

Successful grant holders will receive core funding to meet critical needs and continue their organisations’ missions, with the flexibility to make their own decisions about what is most important for their operations and programmes.

A collaborative panel of individuals who have understanding and lived experience working with black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities will drive the fund’s grant making decisions, awarding grants to BAME-centred and -led community organisations.

“The Phoenix Fund aims to serve as one step toward disrupting the institutionalised racism present in philanthropy”

Hayley Roffey, senior partnerships director at Global Fund for Children

Young people from GFC’s Youth Leadership Council and The National Lottery Community Fund’s advisory group will also be involved to help lay strong foundations for future BAME leadership in the sector.

“We’re proud that, thanks to National Lottery players, the Phoenix Fund has been co-created with a range of community organisations across the country and is committed to a more equitable future.

“Not only will it provide vital emergency funding to develop infrastructure and leadership, but will have, at its heart, the communities that continue to experience inequalities which have been heightened during COVID-19,” said Shane Ryan, deputy director, England at The National Lottery Community Fund.

“By centring the knowledge, expertise, and power of BAME-led grassroots groups, the Phoenix Fund aims to serve as one step toward disrupting the institutionalised racism present in philanthropy,” said Hayley Roffey, senior partnerships director at Global Fund for Children.

The Phoenix Fund partnership is part of The National Lottery Community Fund’s wider commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion and is expected to inform The National Lottery Community Fund in developing its approach to equity and inclusion and to funding diverse groups.

For more information on the fund and to apply, visit thephoenixfund.org.uk.