North Somerset - continued development of the BME Forum in North Somerset
Project: Somerset Racial Equality Council
Date: April 2011
Amount awarded: £5,500
About
Another example of perseverance leading to good organisational development. The Fair Share Trust's relationship with Somerset Racial Equality Council and its off-shoot project North Somerset BME Forum is a good example of on-going practical support – and indeed faith in an organisation and its projects – leading eventually to greater confident and empowerment.
In view of some serious continuity issues within the organisation, the Local Panel has been cautious in its approach to providing on-going support to SREC in North Somerset, and has required the organisation to express clearly all aspects of its work programme, budget breakdown, and longer-term aspirations. Financial support for 2010-11 was granted in two stages subject to further information being provided.
With the increased focus on the Fair Share Trust in North Somerset being on umbrella and infrastructure organisations, support for SREC's work has narrowed onto the BME Forum and associated community development work in particular. Continued support for this structure has brought it to the point where it is ready to become an independent organisation and apply to Fair Share Trust in its own right. The Local Panel is expecting to make a decision in early 2012.
At a more institutional level, continued investment in SREC in North Somerset has increased its confidence and sense of its own credibility. SREC has been able to "use FST funding as match to other bids … harder to pin-point effect – but helped to develop partnership projects".
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