CORE has been involved in a number of activities during the past 2 months, including:

1. Developing a joint statement in response to the Government’s new Commission on Racial Inequalities
2. Convening the ‘BAME Communities in Crisis Meeting’ on 26th May, which brought together both CORE and non-CORE members, to discuss both the government’s and funders response to COVID-19
3. Writing a letter on 4th June to the PM, The Secretary of State for Health, and the Chief Medical Officer of England, regarding the PHE review into racial disproportionality in COVID-19 deaths
4. A number of CORE members attending a roundtable on 6th July with Professor Kevin Fenton, in relation to the publication of the PHE review outlined above
5. A number of CORE members signing the following letters  (on behalf of their individual organisations):
   
   - Freedom for Torture letter outlining concerns with ONS COVID-19 data
   - NAZ letter to the Government regarding the PHE review
   - Runnymede Trust letter regarding the ‘exceptional arrangements for grading and assessment of GCSE and A Levels
   - Operation Black Vote’s COVID-19 Race Equality Strategy

Race on the Agenda stands in lockstep solidarity with the Black community and millions of others across the world who are organising and demonstrating for racial justice, following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

We are campaigning for transformative changes to the systemically racist policing, which infects both the US and the UK. We are also calling for urgent and decisive action to dismantle the wider aspects of structural racism that still blight so many Black people’s lives in so many different ways.

You are no doubt familiar with the TV show Dragon’s Den, where wanna-be entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a panel of successful business owners, with the hope of securing finance for their start-up.

This year, our Funders’ Den will be held in cyberspace and Black, Asian, multi-ethnic and refugee (BAMER) led charities and social enterprises have the opportunity to pitch to Grant Making organisations for a chance to win a small grant.

At the event will be representatives from leading Trusts and Foundations such as: 

- Comic Relief
- Trust For London
- Tudor Trust
- City Bridge Trust
- BBC Children in Need 
- National Lottery Community Fund
- Arts Council England
- Heritage Lottery Fund
- CommUNITY Barnet

They will all be joined by a special guest, TBC. As well as the chance to hear our keynote speaker and to talk to funders, the evening will provide an opportunity for information sharing and networking with key influencers, grant makers, corporate organisations and senior charity representatives.

Up to five groups will present their elevator pitches after which the audience and Funders will select a winner who will be awarded a grant for their project. Please note that the opportunity to pitch will be subject to strict guidelines. For more information, please email: info@money4youth.com.

There will also be other prizes to be won on the night.

Even if you are not pitching, you could still win BIG as we will be offering up prizes for all those who buy raffle tickets on the night such as:

- Bid Writing / Grant Making books from the DSC worth £300
- Free venue space at RFL worth £500
- Fundraising Books

The evening will also see the graduation of the AVOCADO+ Accelerator Programme Class of 2020 and the launch of the new academic year of the programme which supports BAMER groups to become more financially sustainable.

Programme (TBC):
- Speed Networking with Funders
- Welcome and Introductions 
- Funders Top Tips
- Pitch to win!
- Keynote address
- Voting opens
- AVOCADO+ Graduation & Launch
- Winners Revealed
- Grants awarded
- End

Things to note:

The AVOCADO+ Accelerator Programme is a partnership between Money4Youth, Race on the Agenda and IOF Black Fundraisers-UK. It serves the most disadvantaged people in our society and equips them to move to the next stage in their development, giving them the tools they need to survive and thrive.

Spaces are very limited so book now!

Monday 13th July 2020, 6-8pm

The Ubele Initiative are bringing together a panel of Black community activists from across the UK to discuss the realities of Protesting, Policing & Mental Health. As part of the discussion, we will signpost to organisations who can offer support and advice in these testing times. 

The aim of the discussion is to enable participants to make an informed decision about protesting and will allow participants to take control of their protest experience. We will also be exploring alternatives to policing and what this could look like in the UK. 

Register for this ever-important discussion!