Migrant Centre NI
BAME Covid-19 Recovery Fund II
Migrant Centre NI is delighted to be able to make a second round of grants available to support BAME-led community organisations to deliver services at this challenging time. This is possible as we have been chosen as one of 10 Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) led organisations who will fund hundreds of small projects across the UK with the new £3.4m fund from Comic Relief & National Emergencies Trust.
The fund from Comic Relief aims to help vulnerable communities by supporting BAME-led organisations struggling to continue their services because of the pandemic.
Who is this grant for?
BAME-led community groups working in Northern Ireland
Full guidance notes can be found here: Guidance Notes
What projects are you going to fund?
We will fund projects under four themes:
- Domestic Violence / Gender issues
- Traveller / Roma support
- Religious Minorities
- Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Projects must relate to one of more of the above themes.
How much can I apply for?
You can apply for a minimum grant of £12,500 up to a maximum amount of £20,000.
How to apply?
Expressions of interest should be submitted online before 12 noon on Wednesday 3rd March 2021.
Link to the form: the deadline has now passed.
The expression of interest should give us an idea of what project you would like to deliver or continue (if you are already delivering a project and struggling due to COVID). We will also need to know how much you would like to apply for and what that money will be spent on.
Successful groups will be invited to a pitch interview via ZOOM on Wednesday 10th March or Thursday 11th March at allocated time.
What is a pitch interview?
A pitch interview (ZOOM meeting) is a conversation about your project. Instead of filling in a traditional application form we will give you a chance to talk about your project and then ask you a few additional questions about the organisation and management.
What if I do not have access to ZOOM to attend the interview?
Alternative arrangements will be discussed but due to local restrictions we will not be able to see you face-to-face.
To fill in the Expression of Interest form you can scan the QR code, click on the link above or do it directly through the below form.
Please note you will not be able to save & return to the form so you might want to take note of the questions and fill it in once you are ready.
Some background
Recent worrying reports have highlighted the disproportionate health impact of Covid-19 on Black and Asian people across the UK. Many small grassroots projects who work directly with these communities are also facing financial crisis and closure due to the pandemic, according to findings by the Ubele Initiative. These factors led to the campaign group #CharitySoWhite to call on the voluntary sector to ring fence funding for BAME-led organisations.
To help address these inequalities as part of its wider Covid-19 crisis response, Comic Relief has partnered with the National Emergencies Trust to award £3.4m1 worth of grants to 10 BAME- led organisation who will distribute the funding to small and micro projects across the UK. This includes £2.75m in emergency funding from the NET’s Coronavirus Appeal.
Migrant Centre NI is a registered Charity and a limited company. The organisation was initially established as The Belfast Migrant Centre in 2010 and officially recognised as a charity in March 2012. In 2014, to reflect the work of the organisation the name was changed to the current Migrant Centre NI (MCNI). Our overall aim is to tackle racism and eliminate barriers against new and settled migrant communities across Northern Ireland (NI).
MCNI was established to protect the rights of migrant workers in NI, tackle racism, eliminate barriers against BAME communities, advance education and raise public awareness about their rights. MCNI has 3 offices across NI, in Belfast, Lurgan and Derry~Londonderry as well as a Good Relations Officer working at APEX Community House in Enniskillen.
About Comic Relief – Comic Relief raises money to support people living incredibly tough lives. Through humour and stories of hope, CR shown that people can make a massive difference. CR funds hundreds of amazing organisations who are working on the ground to support the most vulnerable people and communities in society including many of those hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis. This includes vulnerable children and young people, people who are homeless or living in extreme poverty, women and families at risk of domestic abuse and those struggling with existing or new mental health problems.
About National Emergencies Trust – The National Emergencies Trust (NET) is a charity set up to raise funds from the general public in the event of a domestic disaster or emergency. When a disaster hits, the Trust collaborates with charities and other bodies to raise and distribute money and support victims. The funds collected are distributed by local partners on the ground in the areas affected by the emergency event. The National Emergencies Trust is a registered charity no. 1182809. For more information, visit: www.nationalemergenciestrust.org.uk