THANK YOU to everyone who donated to this campaign!

Below is some information to clarify the methodology and motivation behind ‘Support the People, who support their communities’ crowdfund.

1. Communication and Consultation:

I (Scarlett Curtis) reached out to Kelechi Okafor and Rianna Jade Parker about the opportunity to directly fund individuals involved in cultural work and who use their skills, time and energy to further the wellbeing of Black communities across the UK. Using their extensive grassroots networks, they were able to create a shortlist of potential grantees. From here, an initial invitation was made to accept the grant on offer.

After consideration, we invited an initial group of cultural workers in the U.K who we believe are organising all-year-round in an attempt to bring Black lives in Britain to the forefront of public consciousness. We want to acknowledge these frontline responders, healers, caregivers, bridge builders, writers, artists and agitators who are working with and without an audience to imagine a Black future.

Once initial invitations were sent, we received confirmation from 20 potential grantees who agreed to take part in the effort. Some grantees have chosen to receive the support whilst remaining anonymous, for this reason alone we will not publicly share the first list of grantees beyond the internal team.

2. Objectives:

We are raising money to pay racial justice organisers, activists, artists and caregivers for their work. Community support is a largely underfunded and overlooked field of work. As a result, society relies on free labour in order to create social and political changes. The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Tony Mcdade and the state violence enacted on Belly Mujinga has led to an outcry for change but this change cannot happen unless the people working towards it are supported.

We recognise that the Covid-19 emergency has had a significant impact on income which is an added stressor for communities already dealing with structural socio-economic disadvantages. We want to provide immediate financial support during this time and afford people time to stabilise, think and plan for the future. The funds will be distributed as a one-time tax-free grant so you won’t have to pay tax or register it as income.

Any funds raised will be split between our 25 recipients. As the funds will be offered as gifts, no tax will be paid on the amount and there will be no requirement to register it as income.

Going forward, we will also be looking for a way to continue this kind of immediate support into the future on a more regular basis.

For now, if you want to make a donation please consider giving to any of these incredible, urgent causes:

The R.I.P Belly Mujinga GoFundMe

The Bail Project (US Based)

The Exist Loudly Fund to Support Queer Black Young People

The Black Lives Matter UK Fund

The 4FrontProject

The Trevor Belle GoFundMe

The Black LGBTQIA Therapy Fund

Sistah Space

Black Protest Legal Support

Black Girls Camping Trip - Wellness Retreat For Black Women

Black Girls Brunch

BLAM UK

Yours,

Scarlett Curtis