The Black History Month 365 fund is a collaborative fund launched by A2Dominion, MTVH and Catalyst, designed to support community groups to host events which promote black history and culture throughout the year, not just during Black History Month. The first two rounds of funding were in November 2021, and January 2022 (when Clarion joined the fund). The fund has supported events and projects for 11 community groups across London, including an African drumming workshop, and a Black history event for dementia carers and their cared-for with dementia.

At this event, where we’ll hear from the grant giving housing associations and some of the grant recipients from the first two rounds of funding, to hear about why the fund was set up and the impact it has had for grant recipients and the communities they work with.

The third round of funding will open in May 2022, and aims to expand the BHM 365 fund to more areas, and more projects and events. There is the opportunity to duplicate the fund into new areas with new housing association partners, as well as to raise awareness of the third round of funding with community groups you work with already.

About the Racial Equality Group

Alongside many across the UK, housing associations were spurred into action by the murder of George Floyd in 2020 and the resurgent Black Lives Matter movement. A group of committed housing associations have worked with the Centre for Excellence in Community Investment to form a Racial Equality Group.

Following a joint statement of intent from the group and successful events in 2021 with David Lammy MP, Hope Not Hate Charitable Trust, and social housing sector leader Tom Murtha, the Racial Equality Group are hosting this event to continue the conversation and keep pushing for action to move towards racial equality.