Trust for London, in partnership with City Bridge Trust, today launches a £4million fund aimed at addressing racial injustice in London, with a focus on increasing economic empowerment within Black and minoritised communities.
The Racial Justice Fund will directly resource Black and minority-led organisations working at the intersection of racial and economic justice. The fund will bring fresh voices, build alliances and pilot new ideas that help increase wealth and income in Black and minoritised communities. It also represents a significant, collaborative funding approach to tackling structural and systemic change.
Wealth and income disparities are at the heart of racial injustice, and ambivalence about the far higher levels of Black and minoritised communities experiencing poverty is not acceptable. The clear link between race and poverty in the UK is backed by evidence, with Black, Asian and minority ethnic households twice as likely to be living in poverty as their white counterparts.
Newly released data shows that a majority of those in poverty in London (56%) are in families headed by a non-white person. Similarly, data on employment, health, housing, criminal justice, wealth and education outcomes persistently show disparities based on race. High levels of poverty and inequality persist despite some progress, and inequity has been starkly highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Racial Justice funding programme has been shaped by the voices of a range of key stakeholders, including organisations working at the intersection of racial injustice. Trust for London is committed to tackling the struggle for racial justice for the long-term and we welcome partnership from other funders on this journey.
There can be no racial justice without economic justice. The disparities that Black and minoritised communities face, particularly around wealth and income, need to be addressed now. This fund is our contribution to this vital work and builds on Trust for London’s long-term strategic commitment to address racial justice in the capital. We are delighted to be collaborating with City Bridge Trust on this work.
Manny Hothi, Chief Executive, Trust for London
Find out moreThis collaboration will make a real difference to black and minority-led communities across the capital, empowering them to tackle the inequalities that still blight our society and to promote racial and economic justice. We look forward to partnering with Trust for London on this project, which supports our vision of a London where all individuals and communities can thrive.
Giles Shilson, Chairman, City Bridge Trust