# Comic Relief and NET announce new £3.4 million fund for BAME projects - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/07/02/comic-relief-net-announce-new-3-4m-fund-for-bame-projects/ - Published: 2020-07-02T08:13:29+01:00 - Author: Melanie May **Comic Relief and National Emergencies Trust have set up a new £3.4 million fund to provide support to hundreds of small Black, Asian, and minority ethnic focused projects across the UK. **   The fund aims to help vulnerable communities by supporting Black, Asian and minority ethnic projects struggling to continue their services because of the pandemic. It includes £2.75m in emergency funding from [NET](https://nationalemergenciestrust.org.uk/)’ s Coronavirus Appeal. ## Advertisement   [Comic Relief](https://www.comicrelief.com/) and NET are providing the money through 10 BAME-led organisations, which will in turn provide the funding. The 10 organisations specialise in and will fund small projects across a range of services including mental health, domestic abuse, sports provision, gender, racial equality and family services. Each has been awarded between £275,000 to £440,000 to distribute to UK projects. The grants will be available from mid-July with each organisation setting their criteria and grant amounts individually, and applicants applying to them directly.   The organisations include: [Imkaan](https://www.imkaan.org.uk/) – a charity working with Black, minoritised and migrant women’s communities, The ATM – a non-profit organisation committed to tackling discrimination and promoting fairer and more equitable societies, Sporting Equals – who promote equal, ethnically diverse sport, and work across the health and physical activity sector, [BAWSO](https://bawso.org.uk/)– an organisation who deliver a range of services to thousands of people across Wales, including refuges, domestic abuse service, child services and outreach projects, and Next Step – an initiative that empowers, transform and supports African communities in Scotland.   In addition, Comic Relief is earmarking a further £1.8m from its new £9m [Change Makers](https://www.comicrelief.com/funding/funding-opportunities/change-makers/) programme specifically for BAME projects.   Jacqueline Onalo, Comic Relief Trustee said:   > “The disproportionate effect of Covid-19 on Black and Asian communities has been > truly devastating. Smaller projects that work within these communities have also > been adversely effected, after many years of neglect, with many at risk of closure. > Our ring fenced funding aims to directly address these inequalities and empower > BAME-led organisations, with specialist expertise, to reach and support grassroot > local projects that are a lifeline to the people they help. Alongside the £1.8 > million Change Maker BAME grants, I hope we can make a real difference to hundreds > of projects struggling to support people throughout the pandemic and its recovery.“   John Herriman, CEO, National Emergencies Trust said:   > “Partnering with Comic Relief to support BAME-led charities means we can continue > to get emergency funds to those that need them most, while building vital capacity > where there’s been historic underinvestment. Since our Coronavirus Appeal launched > in mid-March, around 17% of funds distributed have gone to projects primarily > benefitting BAME communities and around 12% have gone to BAME-led groups. It’s > an encouraging start, but we know these communities have been the hardest hit > by this pandemic and that more needs to be done. That’s why this partnership with > Comic Relief is such an important step.” * **[£3 million fund launches to support UK communities experiencing racial inequalities](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/11/02/3m-fund-launches-to-support-uk-communities-experiencing-racial-inequalities/)**( 2 November 2020) * **[Ruth Davison takes up CEO role at Refuge – & other charity mover news](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/03/10/ruth-davison-takes-up-ceo-role-refuge-other-charity-mover-news/)**( 10 March 2021) * **[Comic Relief launches £2 million domestic abuse and violence tech fund](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/06/23/comic-relief-launches-2m-domestic-abuse-violence-tech-fund/)**( 23 June 2021) ![Loading](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/page-views-count/ajax-loader- 2x.gif)