We are excited to announce that we have secured funding from the second round of grants distributed by Black Lives Matter UK. £20,000 in grant funding has been allocated to the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) to further our Development Plan by supporting our two key part-time staff members (the Development & Programmes Manager and Engagement & Support Coordinator).

See The Guardian article here > | See all recipients here >

The NMPMFF (developed in 2015) is the first permanent national resource of its kind specifically for those that are affected by deaths in custody and makes small grants available for families and their campaign groups across the United Kingdom to provide practical domestic assistance, to further the work of their own campaigns or to assist them in engaging in a range of other local, regional or national campaigns, events and initiatives.

The NMPMFF’s funding programmes are structured to assist families financially both at the time of loss (e.g., support with funeral or memorial costs etc), and after, in the form of support with counselling, inquest costs, website development, publicity resources, respite breaks and more.

Much research, as well as grassroots knowledge, has shown that people of African and Caribbean decent, die in disproportionate numbers in state institutions.

The NMPMFF is also closely involved with initiatives such as Red Alert HELP!, The United Families & Friends Campaign, Black Lives Matter UK, The People’s Tribunal on Police Killings and others, all seeking to challenge injustice and influence structural change reform.

Statement from BLMUK

"We are delighted to be at the point of announcing the outcome of Black Lives Matter UK’s second round of funding. We have redistributed funds to 17 extraordinary grassroots organisations working tirelessly for their communities. We feel immensely privileged to stand in solidarity with them in their important efforts."

Statement from the NMPMFF

"This vital support will empower and strengthen our efforts to advance justice, freedom, and equality for Black and marginalised communities affected by state custody deaths and killings, and be instrumental in progressing our mission."  Watch our short video >

What can you do?

Can you help with the Memorial Family Funds’ aspirations? If you have skills, experience, knowledge, resources or connections that can help, please contact us.

About Black Lives Matter UK

Black Lives Matter UK formed in 2016. They are a member-led, campaigning organisation, working towards collective liberation. They fight for the Black working class family, here and across the world, fighting against racism, but also against capitalism and patriarchy because ALL Black lives matter. They are proudly led by Black people and are a multitude but not everyone.

Like many Black radicals who have come before, BLMUK believe in the power of solidarity and stand strong in a long lineage of Black struggle for freedom. They welcome and express solidarity with all those fighting for freedom across the world, be it in Kashmir, Kurdistan, Venezuela or Palestine.  Visit the BLM UK website here >