London’s Black and Ethnic Minority (BAME) community organisations are to be strengthened by £100,000 in funding.
Black Training and Enterprise Group (BTEG), a charity on a mission to end racial inequality has been awarded money by the City Bridge Trust, the City of London Corporation’s charitable arm.
Tebussum Rashid, deputy chief executive of BTEG, said: “For over a quarter of [a] century BTEG has been supporting BAME groups but London’s race disparities persist. BAME groups must play a greater role in shaping and delivering services.
“We will work with these groups and public bodies to help create new local collaborations that can influence mainstream services, take advantage of funding opportunities and scale up their own services.”
The charity, which has advised several government departments, says there is an urgent need for BAME organisations to work more closely together in order to succeed and be competitive.
The City Bridge Trust funding will pay for the charity’s ‘BAME Connectivity Programme’, which helps organisations across London work more collaboratively. The scheme offers leadership training and workshops to organisations promoting education, employment and criminal justice.
The workshops will show the organisations different ways of collaborating, helping them to have a collective voice to get their message across more widely and make change. The charity will also pair organisations together to enhance their goals.
Alison Gowman, chairman of the City of London Corporation’s City Bridge Trust Committee, said: “This project will give BAME organisations a greater voice in society and help thousands of Londoners in the process.
“By working together we will help BTEG tackle the causes of racial inequality in the capital and help these organisations increase their impact and effectiveness.”
“City Bridge Trust is committed to making London a fairer place to work and live.”
BTEG is a support body for BAME voluntary organisations. The charity offers practical assistance, advice and policy representation services.
City Bridge Trust, London’s largest independent funder, awards grants of £20 million a year to tackle disadvantage and inequality across the capital.
