With thanks to recent funding from INQUEST and Black Lives Matter UK for the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF), we have recently appointed two new key part-time staff members (employed via accountable body, Catalyst4Change CIC), and two sessional team members to carry forward our plans.

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 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.

The Memorial Family Fund Core Team:

The National Memorial Family Fund is an affected family led organisation with a core team of four and intermittent volunteers. It has custodian trustees and is currently incubated by Birmingham enterprise, Catalyst4Change CIC.

Tippa Naphtali : Development & Fundraising Manager
Responsible for the general oversight, development and fundraising initiatives.

Tiphany Springer : Engagement & Support Administrator
Responsible to support grant applicants, events and general administration.

Jenine Springer : Volunteer / Sessional Finance Administrator
Responsible for assisting with payments and monitoring of finances.

The teams initial focus will be on;

The development of our Independent Advisory Group

The IAG will be made up of local, regional and national multi-disciplinary campaigners and interested parties that will provide input to the NMPMFF’s strategic objectives, fundraising and service delivery. The Advisory Group will have a clear terms of reference.

The Family Fund Annual Gala Dinner & Awards

Led by 4WardEverUK, we plan to work with a range of other campaign and civil rights groups, individuals, charities and companies to launch the Annual Activists Awards & Gala Dinner. Its principal aim is to formerly recognise those affected families and individuals that have influence structural change. Its secondary purpose is to raise the profile of, and resources for the National Memorial Family Fund.

The National Events Programme

The first of three events (made possible with a small part-funded grant from the Edge Fund), Looking Back : Moving Forward, was held on 10 September 2021. The event marked the 18th anniversary of the death of Mikey Powell in police custody, and celebrated 6 years of the National Family Fund. The second event due for the Spring 2022 is planned to be a social evening for affected families including a 3-course meal, live entertainment and chillout discussion and meeting zones.

Where it all began!

The birth of the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund followed the launch of a video and online Crowdfunder appeal in 2015.

Founder, Tippa Naphtali (cousin of Mikey Powell) said; “The needs of affected families often gets lost in the equally important work of campaigning and lobbying of the state. We want to change that with a permanent fund set up specifically for their needs.”

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.