A fund has been launched by campaigners, organisers and activists of colour in response to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 that has brought attention to structural racism faced by people of colour in the UK.

Resourcing Racial Justice (RRJ) aims to provide financial support to frontline organisations, grassroots groups and community groups that are working to redress the impact of COVID-19 and systemic racism on communities of colour.

In late April it was reported that COVID-19 virus was disproportionately infecting and killing people of colour. A Guardian analysis found that of 12,593 patients who died in hospital up to 19 April, 19% were people of colour even though these groups make up only 15% of the general population in England.

An overrepresentation in high-risk occupations, including health workers, transport sector and essential shop work are some of the reasons that have been cited. Additionally, people of colour are more likely to live in deprived, dense, over-crowded urban areas making social distancing difficult(as a result of existing social inequality.

In many ways, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the racism that is prevalent in the UK into focus. In response, Resourcing Racial Justice has been launched and encourages organisations, grassroots and community-led groups and individuals working with frontline communities of colour to apply. The fund is currently made up of financial contributions from foundations, philanthropic organisations and crowdfunding.

Find out more about the fund here.

The first round of applications opened on 18 May 2020 and will close on 15th June 2020 (watch this space for future funding rounds).

Examples of what the RRJ will support:

• Becoming a stream of support for historic and newly formed people of colour led organisations who are at risk of closure because of COVID-19 and the impending recession
• Sustaining community organisations, businesses and enterprises that are built on the social relationships, intergenerational knowledge and lived experience of people of colour in their work and infrastructure
• Enabling community groups and community-led organisations that are led by people of colour or whose efforts are working towards racial justice and equity to continue their work
• Organisations, networks and community groups that offer vital services and spaces of refuge to communities colour; especially those who experience multiple forms of marginalisation. These include migrant rights groups, support in detention centres, LGBQI groups, faith groups, advocates and those responding on issues affecting people of colour disproportionately e.g detentions, policing, gentrification, physical and mental health etc.