We are a group of migrant support organisations from across England, providing a wide variety of services to many different communities. We have come together with NSUN because promoting the mental health of our communities is a vital part of the work we do.
We are calling on funders to recognise the fundamental link between migration and mental health work and commit to helping us to sustain it. In order for us to continue supporting our communities, we need funders to rethink their approach to working with us. We are here to help them do this. We invite them to consider the following key concepts as they change their ways of working.
Proactivity
Funders must research which non-profit groups are already delivering services that meet their funding objectives but aren’t already funded by charitable trusts.
Funders should adopt a relational approach, reaching out to groups to learn about our work and build organic, long-lasting relationships.
Accessibility
Instead of long and text-heavy application forms, the application process should be as succinct as possible. It should also allow for video and audio material to be submitted to give us the best chance to convey the impact of our work.
Funders should not make the amount of funding available dependent on the size of an organisation – this limits and disadvantages grassroots groups.
Groups should feel able to ask questions and give feedback to funders, from application to service delivery.
Funders should prioritise funding groups that demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion.
Funders should explicitly acknowledge the importance of grassroots and lived experience-led work. No one can engage with our communities better than us.
Flexibility
Funders must recognise that all areas of grassroots groups’ work are connected, and that overly-restrictive definitions of how funding should be used are unhelpful.
Funders must work with groups on impact assessment to ensure meaningful reporting, and provide resources for project evaluation.
Groups should never be made to submit photographs of the people they work with in the name of impact assessment.
Sustainability
Funders must ask themselves: what happens after evaluation?
Funders should work with groups to build infrastructure and capacity that will last beyond funding cycles.
Funders should work to sustain their relationships with us once funded work is done.
Contact us
We are keen to start conversations with those working in funding about how to put our key concepts into practice. Please get in touch with us via NSUN by contacting kieran.lewis@nsun.org.uk.
This open letter was written with support from NSUN by:
- African Health Policy Network (AHPN)
- Asian People’s Disability Alliance (APDA)
- Bora Shabaa
- Humber All Nations Alliance (HANA)
- Middle Eastern Women & Society Organisation (MEWSo)
- We Belong
