Single Group Funding uncertainty continues

[Penny McLean]

Last year the report of the government's Commission on Integration and
Cohesion recommended that Single Group Funding (ie funding for
organisations working with a single cultural, religious, ethnic or
gender group) 'should be the exception rather than the rule for both
Government and external funders'.

However, many organisations, including refugee community organisations
(RCOs), insist that it makes sense for them to work with a single
group and that this approach benefits community cohesion.

Though this argument has been supported by a High Court ruling last
month against Ealing Council's funding cuts for Southall Black
Sisters, as Clare Goff reports on the New Start website (see link
below), many RCOs still face an uncertain future.

http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news/article/single-issue-groups-call-for-grant-aid-guidance-to-be-speeded-up

The Iraqi Association has lost almost half of its funding in the last
few years in what director Jabbar Hasan claims is a shift away from
single group refugee organisations by mainstream funders.

He has urged the government to look at the impact of the move away
from single issue funding before it is too late.


"The idea that single issue groups will not lead to cohesion is being
adopted by others," he told New Start. "‘But every refugee group has
unique needs. We share some issues such as migration and housing with
other ethnic minority groups, but we also have projects for the
elderly and youth and if these are not funded as Iraqi groups then
they can’t be successful."

He said funding streams were now moving from single issue groups
towards mainstream organisations that support generic issues facing
refugees.


Has your organisation been affected by Single Group Funding? Is it
under threat? Share your experience with other refugee community
organisations on this forum.