The grants are the latest instalment of an £18 million funding programme for Third Sector groups operating at local, regional and national levels which has to date already supported 330 groups.
Many of these organisations will be attending a major national conference to showcase their work and engage with the Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Third Sector Minister Phil Hope.
The conference has three main objectives:
- Providing the BME third sector with an understanding of the Government agenda and vision on equalities and the third sector,
- Building the longer term sustainability of the BME third sector, and
- Showcasing good practice, celebrating success, learning what works, and facilitating networking
First announced in 2005 as part of the Government's 'Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society' strategy, Community Grants are flexible grants awarded to very small and local voluntary and community organisations.
The grants are aimed at improving the experiences of people from BME backgrounds in relation to access and outcomes from public services; increasing the confidence of people from BME backgrounds that public services are delivered in a fair and equitable way; tackling racism and extremism; and bringing together communities from different races and faiths, and promoting community cohesion. In addition to the Community Grants, there are also two other levels of funding, supporting organisations that are working at the national level, and at the regional or local authority level.
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said
"Tackling race inequality remains an essential part of this Government's programme and a major personal priority for me.
That's why Connecting Communities Plus looks to help charities working on race, faith or cohesion grow, prosper and reach out in ways that Government simply cannot.
I am delighted to be able to announce that a further 68 projects nationwide will be funded through our Connecting Communities Plus grants. And I'm particularly delighted to be able to make this announcement at an important event which celebrates the achievements of many of these charities who are making such a difference: both on the ground, delivering services and support to local people, and to national policy and debates."
The conference will showcase the work of the eleven national level organisations including Black Boys Can, Runnymede Trust, and Operation Black Vote who have been funded for three years, sharing in a total of around £4 million each year. Communities and Local Government has supported these organisations as they have a track record in delivering improvements to race equality and a commitment to contribute to government and public understanding of how to reduce inequality and discrimination.
Project level grants have provided funding for an additional 70 projects over three years spread right across the country on delivering improved services to local communities in the fields of race equality and community cohesion. This funding totals a further £11 million. Community grants are flexible grants for the smallest voluntary and community organisations. Hazel Blears has today announced the third round of the smaller grants.
Previous projects funded through the community grants have seen activities funded across the country such as sports clubs being awarded money to run a girls football club project to help girls from disadvantaged backgrounds to engage in sport to overcome anti social behaviour.
In the latest and third round of the Connecting Communities Plus grants 68 projects across the country will receive funding, bringing the total investment over three years to £3 million.
