[WiLT] Single group funding should be "the exception rather than the rule" condemned as discriminatory and possibly racist

[WiL Admin]

Single group funding should be "the exception rather than the rule"
condemned as discriminatory and possibly racist

Racism row over funding proposal

Funding recommendations by the Commission on Integration and Cohesion
have been dubbed discriminatory and possibly racist by a black and
minority ethnic third sector organisation.

Voice4Change England said a proposal to restrict single group funding,
which is awarded to organisations with particular ethnic or cultural
identities, "should not be implemented because it is discriminatory to
BME groups".

The commission's report, Our Shared Future, recommended that single
group funding should be "the exception rather than the rule".

Vandna Gohil, V4CE director, said this threatened the survival of BME
third sector organisations.

She added: "This is worrying because BME organisations have for a long
time addressed cohesion issues and contributed to promoting civic
engagement."

The report also said that, if single group funding was awarded, the
reasons should be "clearly publicised to all communities".

Gohil said this was "certainly discriminatory because the requirement
is being applied only to BME organisations".

She added: "We believe this may be racist and urge the Department for
Communities and Local Government to consider this more fully to assess
whether it is in breach of the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000."

Kevin Curley, chief executive of umbrella body Navca, said: "If local
funders were required to use the local media to draw attention in
particular to awards made to BME groups, this would place cohesion at
risk because it would attract the attention of the BNP and other
racist organisations."

A spokesman for the DCLG, which established the commission, said the
Government was considering the report and would be responding to it
"in due course".