National Mikey Powell Family Fund 1st funding round opens
image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org
source: 4WardEverUK | published: 7 July 2020
We are extremely pleased to announce that the first ever National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) grants round officially opened for families/campaigns affected by custody deaths on 7 July 2020.
Important:
Affected families and/or campaigns will need to be registered
on the NMPMFF website before applying for grants from the fund – various partners are available to assist with applications.
The first round will close on 7 September 2020 (the 17th anniversary of the death of Mikey Powell) or when all funds set aside for this round have been allocated.
The NMPMFF have set aside £10,000 to be distributed to applicants
that meet the criteria for grants. However, in addition to the current conditions of grant, affected families can also apply for general cash support if they have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This will be considered even if those families do not
have an active campaign which is ongoing!
What applicants need to do?
Please direct any enquiries to Jenine Springer, Jaki Miller or Tippa Naphtali at enquiries@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk
Important Note:
We are volunteers so responses may sometimes be delayed!
The future for the National Memorial Family Fund
As well as the core purpose of providing small grants to affected families/campaigns, the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund will also:
- Stage a range of national events (e.g. live music, theatre & drama, films & Q&A’s etc) to raise both awareness of the issues of deaths in custody in the UK, and revenue for the fund
- Develop regional helplines (in partnership with Red Alert HELP!) for families concerned about a loved one detained in police, immigration, prison institutions or detained under the Mental Health Act
- Develop a range of counselling & therapy hubs across the UK to help children, young people and families deal with the devastation following a custody death
- Provide respite, group outings and short UK-based holidays for families affected
Mikey’s cousin, Tippa Naphtali said;
“This fund has the potential to make a real difference for families and their campaign groups that need financial support during the often long and drawn out struggles for justice that can last for decades.
“The needs of affected families and children can often get lost in the equally important work of campaigning and lobbying of state institutions. We want to change that with a permanent national support fund set up specifically for their needs.“
Part of a recent Lottery grant will support the Therapy Care Initiative Pilot, a 1-year programme that will identify up to 10 recently bereaved UK families that require therapeutic support.
Since becoming the Children’s Commissioner, I have travelled across the country meeting children whose lives are shaped by decisions made far away from them, whose voices are rarely heard.
In 2023 The NMPMFF revamped our MemberBASE service which combines contributions to the Fund with a number of extra benefits. Your support is needed - please help!
Dr David Crepaz-Keay, from the Mental Health Foundation, said: "This reform must lead to better treatment, and greater focus on support that keeps people reaching crisis or being detained."
Over the last 2+ years the NMPMFF has lost approximately 116 of our regular monthly donors leaving just 63; and recently saw the end of core funding for two critical staff.
"To the world Benjamin was the renowned writer, poet, human rights activist and more'. To us, his family, he was also all of these things, but most importantly he was family."
