# BME fundraising training programme celebrates first 50 trainees

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/10/20/bme-fundraising-training-programme-celebrates-first-50-trainees/
- Published: 2004-10-20T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**A project which trains black and ethnic minority (BME) people from the voluntary
sector as professional fundraisers is celebrating its success today with an event
at Haberdashers Hall in London.**

The £711,000 fundraising project has been set up and funded by the London Development
Agency (LDA) and is run in partnership with the Black Training and Enterprise Group(
BTEG), the Institute of Fundraising and the London Voluntary Service Council.

So far the project has trained 50 people from BME-led voluntary and community organisations
as professional fundraisers. It has also provided additional support for the trainees
and their organisations plus access to good quality specialist business information,
support and advice.

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Mary Reilly, Chair of the LDA said: “This dynamic project is proving its worth providing
the professional fundraising skills which are now essential to the survival of black
and ethnic minority voluntary sector organisations.”

A further 25 trainees will start the course in the New Year and graduate as professional
fundraisers in 2006.

David Parker, Head of Accreditation and Training at the Institute of Fundraising,
added: “Small community organisations, particularly those from the BME sector, may
lack the skills or experience to ensure that they attract sustainable funding. Programmes
such as the BME Fundraising Training Programme provide an invaluable source of expertise
which supports the sector as a whole”.

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