Charities that work with and support Black children and young people are being invited to bid for a share of a £1m fund set up by BBC Children In Need.

The We Move: Youth Social Action Fund has been created by BBC Children in Need as part of its £10m commitment announced in 2020 to boost opportunities for Black children.

It is also part of the charity’s £4m Sharing Power (Youth Social Action) Programme, which includes backing from the government and National Lottery backed #iwill fund.

We Move: Youth Social Action Fund aims to support projects that enable young people to make a difference in their communities to “use their voice and lived experience to tackle subjects that matter to them”, said the charity. This includes influencing policy makers, fundraising and volunteering.

We Move: Youth Social Action Fund has been launched this week via BBC Radio 1Xtra and is offering charities grants of up to £50,000 for up to 18 months.

The Ubele Initiative is the charity’s community partner to help promote the fund. Charities have until 10 June to register their interest and the application deadline is 10 days later.

“As a charity, we want to ensure that all children and young people are supported to thrive and be the best they can be, and that's why this fund is so important.,” said BBC Children in Need chief executive Simon Antrobus.

“Young Black people’s voices sit at the heart of this fund and have shaped and developed it to ensure it will go on to empower other young Black people to use their voices to drive change and support them to tackle the issues and subjects that both affect them, and most importantly, matter to them. I cannot wait to see the legacy this fund leaves."

BBC Radio 1Xtra head Faron McKenzie added: “We are fully behind this new fund that aims to protect Black joy and imagination and believe that this collaboration will deliver a positive force for change within our society.”

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