Over £100k to give London’s BAME organisations a greater voice
A charity on a mission to end racial inequality has received £110,000 to strengthen London’s Black and Ethnic Minority (BAME) community organisations.
City Bridge Trust, the City of London Corporation’s charitable arm, awarded the money to the Black Training and Enterprise Group (BTEG), based in Islington.
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, commented:
“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.”
Tebussum Rashid, Deputy Chief Executive of the Black Training and Enterprise Group, added:
“For over a quarter of 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.”
BTEG is a support body for black, Asian and minority ethnic voluntary organisations. The charity offers practical assistance, advice and policy representation services. BTEG’s aim is to address the causes and consequences of racial inequality.
City Bridge Trust is London’s largest independent funder, making grants of £20 million a year to tackle disadvantage and inequality across the capital.
The Trust has awarded around 7,800 grants totalling over £380 million since it first began in 1995. It helps achieve the City Corporation’s aim of changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of Londoners.
ENDS
Media Enquiries
Kristina Drake
Media Officer, City of London Corporation
Kristina.Drake@cityoflondon.gov.uk
07710860884 / 020 7332 1125
Notes to editors
About the City of London Corporation:
The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK.