Applications open for BME Engagement Fund grant 22-23

Applications open today for the latest round of our Engagement Fund for BME communities in the city.

The Engagement Fund aims to support projects that improve the well-being of BME residents and promote fairness.

Groups can apply for grants of up to £2,000 to help cover group activities and running costs to May 2023.

Seven groups received grants in last year’s funding, including a Caribbean elders club, a multicultural women’s cycling group, and the Sussex Syrian and Women of Colour Brighton community groups.

Councillor Steph Powell, co-chair of the Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture Committee, said:

“This fund is aimed at improving well-being and promoting fairness for BME communities in the city as part of our work towards becoming an anti-racist city and tackle inequality.

“This is the third year of our BME Engagement funding, which has been set up to be as accessible as possible so that smaller grassroots groups can benefit.

“These grants have supported a wide variety of community projects doing brilliant work that is making a real difference to communities across the city. We look forward to this latest round of funding supporting more of the same!”

Application details

The fund is open to organisations that: 

  • Are BME led and/or have a predominantly BME membership
  • Have an annual income of £20,000 or less 
  • Aim to improve well-being, build cohesion or promote fairness

Groups must have a governing document and are expected to have a bank account or be in the process of opening one.

Groups can apply for grants of up to £2,000 out of a total fund of £15,000. All grants will need to be spent by 31 May 2023.

We’re holding a webinar at 5.30pm on Wednesday 9 November for anyone who would like to find out more. If you’d like to take part, please email communitiesteam@brighton-hove.gov.uk for further details.

The deadline for applications is 9 December 2022.

For details of how to apply, visit our Communities Fund webpage.

Engagement Fund

The Engagement Fund is part of the council’s Communities Fund, which supports local community groups, voluntary organisations and not-for-profit social enterprise.

The council recognises that there has been a historic lack of ring-fenced investment for BME groups, that this Engagement Fund sum is limited and is working to identify additional resources.

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