The Phoenix Way
North West
The Phoenix Way is a grant-making initiative designed to transform Black and ethnic minority communities. It was established in partnership with six regional leads supported by The Youth Endowment Fund, Chanel, and Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales. The Phoenix Way (TPW) is a national collaborative partnership created during the Covid-19 pandemic as a response to the structural inequalities that black and ethnic minority communities and community-led organisations face in relation to influencing and accessing grant funding in the UK.
TPW is a racial justice movement that aims to address the structural and systemic barriers and inequalities that black and racially minoritised communities face in influencing and accessing funding in the UK.
TPW will develop a pioneering model that can be replicated by others to ensure that communities facing poverty, exclusion and discrimination influence decisions that impact their lives. By putting communities in the lead, TPW seeks to ensure that no community is left behind.
“The Phoenix Way seeks to ensure that no community is left behind”
TPW’s principal aims are to:
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Transform the relationship between funders and black and ethnic minoritised communities.
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Tackle systemic race inequalities.
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Develop shared leadership, which actively invests in these communities and empowers them to make decisions about the funding process, priorities, and allocations.
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Drive transformational change at regional and national levels by adopting a racial equity, social justice lens and creating learning that impacts the wider funding ecosystem and black and ethnic minoritised communities and community organisations.
The Phoenix Way will:
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Identify black & racially minoritised community organisations
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Map their needs
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Shape the grant-making process
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Identify systemic discrimination
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Influence change by breaking down barriers and inequalities
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Set up a strategic group
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Facilitate and managing a regional grant assessment panel
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Facilitate networking events
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Bridge the gap between funders and community organisations
Future:
The National Lottery (TNL) has committed to ringfence £50m over the next 5 years for this cause. The report that will be submitted to the England committee in September 2024 will determine TNL involvement with TPW. The Phoenix Way is confident of a fruitful relationship, ultimately benefiting black and racially minoritised communities. Working in the community, for the community, can be challenging; however, the results are truly remarkable. If you would like to get involved, send an email to our Northwest Regional Programme Manager: naz.zaman@inclusivenorth.org.uk
The Phoenix Way Is Currently Hiring For Multiple Roles. Learn More Here