The Phoenix Way has awarded £1.2m in funding to racial justice organisations led by black and racially minoritised women.

The racial justice partnership grantmaker, which is led by The Ubele Initiative and supported by Global Fund for Children, has announced that the 10 chosen organisations will receive grants of between £50,000 and £170,000 over a period of one to two years.

The funded organisations, which include Unjust CIC, the Sistren Legal Collective, Anima Youth and Operation Black Vote, were nominated by community individuals and organisations through an invitation process.

The organisations had to demonstrate that 70 per cent of their leadership were women, as well as 70 per cent being black or belonging to a racial minority.

Five X More CIC, YouthThe Gap CIC, House of Dread, GirlDreamer, Milk Honey Bees and ADHD Babes also received funding. 

A spokesperson for the Phoenix Way said: “This round marks the first time we’ve been able to fund work addressing the root causes of racial discrimination. 

“The groups were funded based on the intersection of racial justice and gender equity.”

Successful organisations were shortlisted by a steering group of community members at a residential, as a final part of the decision-making process.

This steering group also began the co-creation of a shared leadership programme that will support the grantmaker’s funded partners beyond their grants, the spokesperson added.

The funding is being formally launched at an event in London today (30 April), which will celebrate the work of the women-led organisations by showcasing their achievements through panel discussions with sector leaders.

The Phoenix Way said: “May 2025 marks five years since George Floyd’s murder and the stark racial disparities exposed during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“While these events initially spurred commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion, recent shifts - particularly in the United States - have raised concerns about the long-term dedication to racial justice.

“The Phoenix Way continues to lead this charge with its community-led approach to improving socio-economic outcomes for black and racially minoritised communities across the UK. 

“This month’s funding of £1.2m represents a significant step forward in empowering women-led organisations working tirelessly for racial justice.”