The GP Care Group welcomes the news that a £1.5 million funding package will be allocated to drive forward inclusion work of Black, Asian, Minority, Ethnic communities in Tower Hamlets.
Announcing the news, Cllr Asma Begum, who is Chair of the Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic Commission, said: “It is with great delight that I write to inform you that the Council is making progress with its commitment to be an anti-racist and more equal borough. We have taken a huge step forward with a £1.5million funding package and detailed action plan to move ahead with the work of its Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Inequalities Commission.
At the cabinet meeting last month, it was agreed that a funding package of £1,582,691 will be allocated to the work.
The investment, which is believed to be one of the biggest made by a local authority to tackle racial inequality, will be used in partnership with local residents and partner organisations with a focus on health, education, employment and community leadership.
Some key targets identified for delivering lasting changes include:
more residents from Black Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds are in community leadership roles and influencing decision making
improved access to health and care services for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic residents, including a focus on digital exclusion and other barriers
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic children and young people have improved confidence and access to the jobs that meet their educational attainment
young people have access to mentoring schemes and a curriculum which reflects a greater understanding of race and racial inequality
increased numbers of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff in senior roles across key public and community organisations in Tower Hamlets
race inequality is actively discussed and addressed at all levels and forums in the borough.
As a partner and having given evidence to the Council’s BAME Commission and a supporter of addressing issues that limit opportunities for many of our Black, Asian, Minority, Ethnic residents, the GP Care Group is thrilled with this announcement.
Speaking about these issues earlier this month, Joint CEO of GP Care Group, Chris Banks, said: “We have got behind the issues raised by Black Lives Matter and racism and support the commission to drive out racism and its impact on BME communities. We take that very seriously and we have played our part in it [the commission]. There’s no place for racism in the Care Group or our society and we want to stamp it out.”
The full breakdown of how the funding will be spent is available to see in the Cabinet report.
