CURRENT EVENTS are sadly familiar to us. A black person dies at the hands of police, protests follow along with chants that Black Lives Matter and cries that there will be no justice until there is peace.
While George Floyd’s death in Minnesota has been the catalyst for this current action, seeking justice for black Britons who have died in police custody are central to protests in the UK; as are incidents of innocent black Britons being disproportionately stopped and searched by police, the impact of COVID-19 on black communities and the treatment of members of the Windrush Generation under the hostile environment policy.
Beyond expressing solidarity, sharing our thoughts and feelings about current events on social media and taking to the streets, many of us who can are also looking to use the power of our pounds by donating to organisations that care about black lives all year round.
Organisations which work to provide vital services for black people in Britain have faced increased demand during the COVID-19 crisis. With many relying on donations from the public to keep going, we’ve highlighted 10 organisations in the UK that you can support.
StopWatch
For 10 years StopWatch has worked to campaign against the disproportionate use of stop and search, the increasing use of exceptional stop and search powers and the weakening of accountability mechanisms.
StopWatch is currently appealing for donations to continue its work.
To donate to StopWatch, click here.
This Friday, StopWatch CEO Katrina Ffrench will join Voice journalist Alannah Francis for the latest in our Friday at Five series. Tune in to The Voice Instagram account at 5pm on 12 June. If you’d like to submit a question in advance you can email [email protected].
INQUEST
INQUEST is the only charity providing expertise on state related deaths and their investigation to bereaved people, lawyers, advice and support agencies, the media and parliamentarians.
The charity is entirely independent of government and as such relies on donations to carry out its work.
You can donate to INQUEST here.
Supporting and advancing young people
Mentivity
The Voice’s news editor, Vic Motune, recently interviewed Mentivity co-founder Sayce Holmes-Lewis after he shared a recent experience of racial profiling at the hands of officers in the Metropolitan Police. Holmes-Lewis’ organisation provides support for young people, schools and parents through 1:1 mentoring and group conversation-based learning. It aims to foster greater educational attainment and engagement.
Mentivity is currently raising funds so it can continue supporting young people during the COVID-19 pandemic. The money will help them to remotely run one-to-one mentoring sessions and group learning sessions. You can donate to Mentivity here.
BLAM Charity
The brainchild of six young women, BLAM (Black Learning Achievement and Mental Health) began as a community outreach event in the spring of 2017. Following public support, BLAM was established as a service provider with a focus on teaching black history to school children across London.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, BLAM is offering free black history worksheets to parents in the UK.
BLAM is currently raising funds for its Rooted Project, which provides free black history lessons to children from the African diaspora in order to educate and empower them.
You can donate here.
The Reach Out Project
Founded by two friends, Lillian Okolie and Michaela Pierre, in 2017, The Reach Out Project works to help combat the lack of social, cultural and enrichment opportunities afforded to young people living in inner-city London.
The Reach Out Project relies on donations to continue their support for young people. You can donate to fund their work here
https://www.reachoutproject.co.uk/donate
Funds to support queer black young people
Less than a week ago Tanya Compas, an award winning youth worker, community organiser and founder of Queer Black Christmas, started raising funds to continue supporting queer black young people and establish Exist Loudly as an official organisation. She’s now surpassed her fundraising goal but acknowledging the unrelenting support, she’s left the fundraiser open to the end of this month (Pride Month) with all proceeds raised above £52,000 being shared among several organisations and charities.
Find out more information and donate here.
Mental Health
Black Minds Matter UK
Taking care of our mental health is essential at all times, but many of us are finding that this particular period is taking its toll. Recognising this, the strain the NHS is under and the difficulties black people in Britain have accessing culturally sensitive and competent mental healthcare, Agnes Mwakatuma and Annie Nash, set up Black Minds Matter UK.
The donations raised from the Black Minds Matter UK fundraiser will go towards providing black individuals a nd families with therapy sessions conducted by certified black mental health practitioners free of charge.
Through the Black Minds Matter website, recipients of the free therapy sessions can select their practitioner of their choice.
You can donate here
Women’s welfare
Southhall Black Sisters
Southall Black Sisters recently launched the COVID-19 Crisis Project, which offers safe crisis accommodation with specialist support to women and children fleeing domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women and girls.
To support the work that Southhall Black Sisters do to safeguard vulnerable women and children, click here.
Imkaan
This Black feminist organisation is dedicated to addressing violence against Black and minoritised women and girls. Imkaan has recently launched a COVID-19 emergency fund for black and minority ethnic women’s organisations.
You can donate to Imkaan’s work here.
Black businesses
As the world’s focus shifted to racial inequality, many used the opportunity to highlight black owned businesses that deserve our support.
At The Voice, one of the ways we have championed black owned businesses and entrepreneurs is through our black business guides and fairs.
The Voice newspaper
Since it was established in 1982, The Voice newspaper has been committed to celebrating black excellence, campaigning for positive change and informing the black community on important issues. Your support is essential to protect the future of the publication as we strive to help raise the profile of the black communities across the UK. Any size donation is welcome and we thank you for your continued support.
If you want to make a donation to The Voice, you can do so here.
Buy a past issue of The Voice newspaper here or purchase a subscribition here.
And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Comments Form
6 Comments
This appeal for financial support for England’s 10 leading African-skinned Community Groups; political Charities, and political Lobbies is the ultimate test which will determine if England’s African-skinned Subjects are really committed to defeating skin-colour profiling and racism.
If England’s African-skinned Subjects fail to financially support our 10 top leading justice seeking groups; then we deserve to have our campaign for racial justice subverted by Caucasian liberal Left-wing people.
Hello,
I would like to know if you know of any black mental health organization UK wide who provide counselling for refugee and black men. I would like to submit my CV and covering letter to work for one of these identified organization, if feasible.
Check out http://www.blackmindsmatteruk.co.uk
I watched the bbc news with parliament Prime Ministers Questions 26/4/2034,
and a Female MP asked the prime minister for the Uk to fully apologize etc.
for Britain’s roll in African Caribbean Colonial and Slavery, and the profits that was made..
I am upset of the prime minster response,
He basically said no, and dismissed 400 plus years of Black People Plight and on going Racisms.
he said with a body language of utter disregard, and a tone of anger for the MP who mentioned it. I do not know what people think. However, the implications of his response and Attitude should be yet another wake up call.
Look People, take wind rush for example.
The Gov is still pussy footing around, hoping the elderly will die.
they made it so difficult for the children and grandchildren to make a claim,
If a person dismiss your brutal heritage, yet when it comes to their heritage
they will defend it, and take what they say is theirs.
they celebrate their history’s every day. But tell us to move on.
they never move on when they want justice, i mean their Justice.
they can lock up a person for a crime done 50ys ago
they do not move on.
People, how can you go to the Oppressor and say let us be Equal, when the Oppressors Intent is to keep us on mass down? do the right thing and unite or come together……
I would like to support my community and make a donation of furniture to your charity asap.
Black lives matter and so is supporting valuable people in society, which are good role models. Everyone is important to carry forward positive parenting and social value in society. Black cultural heritage is so important to love yourself and others. You do not hurt yourself or others. Once you recognise that you had a breakdown and apologies for any inconvenience comments made during that time . You live within laws of society and civil strategy which implementated into society. Love yourself and others because everyone at sometimes need extra support and love, compassion. I am aware of environmental and I need a change to start afresh somewhere else. Loving yourself and others is important. Civil strategy is important in everything you do. I always supportef different cultures within food elements , art and fashion whether watching on television or cooking meals myself. Love Iris notice