New community grants available for Londoners experiencing the greatest levels of discrimination
A new grants scheme has been launched today to help support the mental health and wellbeing of Londoners who are experiencing higher levels of unfair treatment and discrimination.
The Right to Thrive grants scheme aims to make additional support available to communities and groups who are particularly vulnerable to experiencing poor mental health. The grants scheme was launched by Thrive LDN, London’s citywide movement to ensure all Londoners have an equal opportunity to good mental health.
London is home to more than a million European Union citizens and more than 40 per cent of residents identify as belonging to Asian, Black Mixed or other ethnic groups. London also has vibrant lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) communities. It is a global city where people from different countries, cultures and classes live together, side-by-side.
However, research from Thrive LDN has shown that individuals and communities with multiple backgrounds, particularly minority groups, are more likely to experience unfair treatment which negatively impacts their mental health and wellbeing. The research also highlighted that some participants recognised that they have been ‘treated unfairly’ but do not always realise that means they have been discriminated against.
The scheme will award up to £200,000 to support the delivery of at least 16 projects or activities over the next two years. The initiative will specifically support local grassroot providers who typically find it difficult to access other forms of grant funding through a deliberately more simplified and accessible application process. The Mayor of London and all partners involved in Thrive LDN are committed to finding ways of connecting all Londoners with opportunities to advance equality.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I want London to be a city where everyone can speak openly about mental health and get the right support when needed. We know that certain communities are more likely to face unfair treatment and discrimination than others, so through these new Right to Thrive grants we will provide support to those who need it the most.”
Philip Glanville, the Mayor of Hackney and co-lead of Thrive LDN, said: “Every Londoner deserves an equal opportunity for good mental health. The Right to Thrive grants scheme provides an opportunity to tackle stigma and ensure that people from a wide range of backgrounds and intersectional communities have their voices heard, and more support available for them. The scheme will also support the wider London community to be more aware, breaking down boundaries that exist along identity lines.”
Jacqui Dyer, Mental Health Equalities Champion for NHS England and co-lead of Thrive LDN, said: “The Right to Thrive initiative demonstrates our collective commitment to create a healthier, fairer city, where nobody’s mental health and wellbeing suffers because of who they are or where they live. Right to Thrive is an ongoing commitment to celebrate and protect diversity in London, especially for those from intersectional communities who are at a higher risk of unfair treatment. It is a small but positive step to offer targeted support for Londoners who are experiencing exclusion, discrimination and bias because of their intersectional identity.”
Martin Petry, Programmes Manager (Grants), Groundwork London, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Thrive LDN to deliver such an important programme, as Groundwork London’s mission is very much centred around helping London’s vulnerable communities become stronger. We understand the crucial role local, grassroots organisations play in supporting communities to flourish. The Right to Thrive programme will allow those organisations that work closest with London’s intersectional and marginalised communities to address the challenges they experience and promote better mental wellbeing.”
For more information about the Right to Thrive grants scheme and to apply, visit the Thrive LDN website: www.thriveldn.co.uk.