Brighton and Hove charities given cash boost

“Over the past ten years, we have been working in close partnership with Amex to facilitate the administration of their grants to charities and community groups across Sussex,” said Kevin Richmond, Chief Executive of Sussex Community Foundation.

Since 2006, they have awarded grants totalling around £0.5 million to 87 different charities across the region, that focus on promoting diversity, social inclusion and equal rights; helping disadvantaged people into work or promoting volunteering and community engagement.

This year’s grants of around £44,000 have been shared equally among six local charities:

- AMAZE, a charity that provides information, advice and support to families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. This grant will help promote volunteering and community engagement.

- Black and Minority Ethnic Young People’s Project (BMEYP) the only youth project specifically for BME youngsters in Brighton & Hove. This award will support the BME Youth Champions Project.

- Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard exists to listen to, inform and support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Brighton & Hove and beyond. Originally a helpline, it now offers much more. This grant will help support increased volunteer involvement in the Older LGBT People’s Project.

- Brighton Women’s Centre has been supporting women in Brighton & Hove for over 40 years and women across Sussex since 2014, offering a safe, women-only space. The grant will support a service delivery review to ensure it is fit-for-purpose at this time of changing market conditions, reduced public funding and increased demand from service users.

- Grace Eyre Foundation, which helps people with learning disabilities in Sussex gain independence, obtain housing, find employment and enjoy life. The grant will help fund a new project, Pilotlight, which will match eight people with learning disabilities who use the Grace Eyre Centre with eight volunteers from the local community.

- MindOut is a mental health service run by and for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender people. This grant will support a project to expand volunteering opportunities for LGBTQ Amex employees residing in Sussex.

On receiving the award, Vannessa Crawford, Project Development Manager said: “The BMEYPP are very pleased to receive recognition for our work with young people in the city through this award from American Express.

“The grant will be used to provide leadership training for young people and support them to gain valuable volunteering experiences. This will help them to gain skill for their future jobs and careers.”