BAME-led charities and not for profit organisations are to receive a share of £9.5m to help them recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The funding has been handed out through the Covid-19 Community-Led Organisations Recovery Scheme, which is managed by Power to Change, Locality, the Ubele Initiative and Social Investment Business and is part of the National Lottery Community Fund’s Coronavirus Community Support Fund, which launched in May.

A total of 302 charities and community organisations are to benefit from the funding. Of these more than two thirds (69%) are BAME-led organisations.

The grants are up to £100,000 and given to charities facing severe financial difficulties amid the pandemic and aims to help them to develop services. This includes health and wellbeing projects as well as digital education workshops.

Among those to benefit is West London based Pepper Pot Centre, which supports the elderly African-Caribbean community. It has received £24,000 to fund an outreach support worker.

Another is London based community interest company, Impact Brixton, a BAME-led shared office space in south London. It has been handed £47,700 to stabilise its business and launch a digital business recovery progamme to help local businesses in need of digital education.

“Whilst Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on people right across the country, it has disproportionately affected Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities,” said Power to Change chief executive Vidhya Alakeson.

“By bringing together this strategic partnership, we’ve ensured this much-needed financial support is reaching those communities that need it most.”

Locality chief executive Tony Armstrong added: “These grants come at a critical time for community organisations who are making a significant impact on people’s lives during this period.”

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