9 out of 10 BAME-led organisations could close if pandemic continues says new report

AS MANY as 9 out of 10 black-led organisations could close permanently in three months if the coronavirus crisis extends into June according to new research from The Ubele Initiative.

The report, called Impact of COVID-19 on BAME community and voluntary organisations, suggests that if the coronavirus crisis continues into June, close to 90% of 137 BAME led micro and small organisations could close permanently.

The report, is based on two surveys conducted between 19 March and 4 April and received 182 responses, of which 137 were Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) led organisations.

CRISIS: Yvonne Field, founder and managing director of The Ubele Initiative says many BAME-led organisations are facing a struggle to survive

Lack of sufficient reserves

The majority of BAME led organisations who took part in The Ubele Initiative research were micro and small, according to the National Council for Voluntary Organisation’s (NVCO) definition, with 87% reporting that they do not have sufficient reserves to last more than 3mths.

The impact would mean no support being provided to nearly 20,000 clients each week across seven of the regions who responded.

To rescue the BAME third sector, locally, regionally and nationally, we need more than lifeboats – we need a refit; a strong keel, a new rudder for a new direction, an anchor to ride the current and future storms.
Yvonne Field, founder and managing director of The Ubele Initiative

The surveys predated the publication of the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre report which found that 35% of almost 2,000 patients in intensive care units were from BAME backgrounds despite forming only 13% of the population, according to the 2011 census.

Report author Karl Murray said that the impact of COVID-19 on the BAME community was such that “more than half of those who responded, knows of a colleague who had been diagnosed and had to self-isolate.”

Struggle to stay afloat

Yvonne Field, founder and managing director of Ubele, said: “This piece of work into the impact of COVID-19 on BAME led organisations shows struggling BAME organisations without a lifebuoy to keep them afloat.

SUPPORT NEEDED: London Deputy Mayor for Social Integration, Social Mobility and Community Engagement, Debbie Weekes-Bernard

“Those few surviving organisations (many which have been in existence for up to four decades) have ended up rudderless without a clear steer as survival beckons.

“To rescue the BAME third sector, locally, regionally and nationally, we need more than lifeboats – we need a refit; a strong keel, a new rudder for a new direction, an anchor to ride the current and future storms.”

Field added: “This report, against such a backdrop of a world upturned from this pandemic, provides an opportunity to reboot and rethink how we recover.”

London Deputy Mayor for Social Integration, Social Mobility and Community Engagement, Debbie Weekes-Bernard, said:“It is increasingly clear from emerging evidence that people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are being disproportionately affected by the outbreak of COVID-19.”

Further support

She added: “Existing inequalities have worsened through this crisis and it’s more important than ever that support is given to BAME community-led organisations. We are helping to support these groups through the London Community Response fund, but we need the government to provide further support and, after a decade of austerity, acknowledge the need to deal with the structural problems in our society which have led to these inequalities.”