TOP 8 - CHARITY OR COMMUNITY INITIATIVES 2018
AWAAZ
AWAAZ is a charity that provides a mental health service to individuals from the BME and new emerging communities with a mental health problem. The organisation also provides self-directed support for individuals from the BME communities.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Black History Month (BHM) is an annual nationwide celebration of Black History, Arts and Culture in the UK, United States and Canada. It began as a way for remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. Black History Month was first formally celebrated in the UK in early 1987, following the suggestion of Ansell Wong, the Head of the Ethnic Minority Unit at the Greater London Council and with the support of Linda Bellos, campaigner and politician.
FORWARD UK (FGM)
FORWARD (Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development) is a charity that founded in response to the continuing practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) among migrant communities and are one of the longest standing organisations tackling FGM in the UK. The charity work to frame FGM as a human rights violation, inform affected communities about the health implications and laws.
GAL-DEM
gal-dem is an online and print magazine and creative collective comprised by over 70 women and non-binary people of colour. Founded by Liv Little in response to the lack of diversity at her university and in the mainstream media, the aim of gal-dem is to open the experiences of women of colour to a wider audience.
KARMA NIRVANA
Karma Nirvana is an award-winning British human rights charity supporting victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage. The charity run a national helpline offering direct support and guidance to victims and professionals, provide training to the Police, NHS and Social Services, act as expert witnesses in court, speak out in schools and attend awareness raising events nationally and internationally. In addition, the Karma Nirvana team lobby government.
NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL
Notting Hill Carnival is an annual carnival event and parade that celebrates Caribbean history with colorful and vivid representations of Caribbean traditions and music. The first Carnival events were arranged as a demonstration of racial unity after the Notting Hill Race Riots of 1958. The Carnival is one of the world’s largest street festivals and is a significant event in Black British culture. Organised and managed by the people of British West Indian communities, close to two million people attended the event in 2017.
SANGAM CENTRE
Sangam is a not-for-profit charity based in Barnet, established and managed by Asian Women. It was founded in 1971 as a result of the large influx of immigrants from South Asia and East Africa in the sixties and seventies as a result of the lack of both language proficiency and understanding of the systems of Government which left many vulnerable Asians feeling helpless and often with nowhere to turn. It was recognised by Her Majesty the Queen in 2006 when Sangam received the coveted Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services.
THE ALETO FOUNDATION
The Aleto Foundation is a charity that was established for the next generation of BAME leaders in the UK. The aim of their leadership development programmes, ongoing mentoring support and networking opportunities is to help to increase the representation of young BAME people from communities that have historically found it challenging to access jobs due to their background.