Released: 29th February 2008.
Funding cut for Southall Black Sisters has wider impact
BME national policy voice organisation Voice4Change England has written to the Minister for the Third Sector Phil Hope MP to urge him to personally intervene to reverse the decision by Ealing Council to withdraw funding from the Southall Black Sisters organisation.
The letter, written by V4CE Director Vandna Gohil, calls for the continued funding of Southall Black Sisters because not only does the organsition provide a vital service to abused women but also that the loss of the service would mean an already marginalised section of the community is further disempowered.
Referring to how the Council’s decision comes at a time when the Government has its draft Cohesion Guidance for Funders out for consultation – which on page 7 states that the ‘ideal will be for mainstream provision to move towards a state where all people are properly supported’ – Vandna Gohil says:
“It would appear that Ealing Council has taken action on policy before it has been implemented, without full and proper consideration of its contradictory and damaging impact on BME communities.”
She adds: “If the decision is not reversed then it will send a message to other local authorities that funding to BME groups can be stopped on the pretext that groups run by and for BME communities are not supporting cohesion or providing opportunities to interact with other communities.”
In the letter V4CE have asked the Minister to meet with Southall Black Sisters so that he could learn more about their excellent work.
Notes to editors
1 V4CE can be contacted on 020-7843 6130.
2 Southall Black Sisters can be contacted on 020-8571 9595.