[WiLT] BME networks seek Whitehall funds assurance

[WiL Admin]

BME networks seek Whitehall funds assurance

England's BME networks could end up closing unless the government
commits to funding them beyond 2009, according to a third sector lobby
group.

Voice4change England said the loss of the nine networks, which support
around 15,000 organisations, would undermine the government's
aspiration to foster a more cohesive and inclusive society.

The networks have been centrally funded since 1999 but the Office of
the Third Sector (OTS) has so far given no indication it will continue
financing them beyond the end of next March.

The networks currently receive a total of £540,000 a year.

There also remains confusion over the government's stance on funding
single issue groups, which the networks support.

Last year the Commission on Integration and Cohesion called on local
authorities to stop targeting funds towards organisations that
represented only one community or interest group.

But ministers later distanced themselves, arguing there was still a
case for funding specialist organisations (New Start, 10 October
2007).

Voice4change said the discontinuation of the networks would result in
the reduction of BME influence in regional and sub-regional strategies
and the loss of progress made by the networks over the past nine
years.

Vandna Gohil, Voice4change director, said: 'The evidence is that these
networks are as vital today as when they were conceived. They are
unique in bringing a race equality perspective to the development and
implementation of policy.

Crucially they play an important role in challenging the
discrimination that the BME third sector still faces in accessing
mainstream infrastructure support.'

Rafiu Williams, head of networks for the London BME network MiNet,
said withdrawing funding support for the networks 'smacks of folly'.

'Why this move at a time when most of the networks are now firmly
rooted and demonstrating the tremendous impact they are capable of
making with the OTS grant? More significantly, the BME regional
networks are now well positioned as trusted gateways for the
government and public sector agencies into the BME third sector and
communities.'

Ila Chandavarkar, chief executive of east of England BME network
Menter, said: 'The tragedy is that BME communities continue to have
poor access to services.'

The continuing need for government support for BME networks,
http://www.voice4change-england.co.uk

http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news/article/bme-networks-seek-whitehall-funds-assurance


You can download a copy of the paper:

The Continuing Need for Government Support for the Black and Minority
Ethnic Regional Voluntary and Community Sector Networks in England -
released today by Voice4Change England, the national policy voice for
the BME Third Sector

by scrolling to the end of the page at
http://www.voice4change-england.co.uk/regional_bme_networks_funding_release.html