Written Statement: Launch of The Anti-racist Wales Culture, Heritage and Sport Fund – Grant Scheme

I am pleased to announce that our Anti-racist Wales Culture, Heritage and Sport Fund opens for applications today for six weeks.

I announced in my Oral Statement on 7^th June that the Culture, Heritage and Sport goals and actions in the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan and our specific Programme for Government commitments to properly represent and reflect the history of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people will be supported by £4.25 million of funding over the next three years.

At least £1.75 million of this funding has been allocated to the Anti-racist Wales Culture, Heritage and Sport Fund. This is a competitive grant scheme across the culture, heritage and sports sectors, which has opened today.

The Fund will enable projects which deliver the Culture, Heritage and Sport goals and actions in the Action Plan and our specific Programme for Government commitments. The Fund will support projects that have community support and can deliver a positive, sustainable change for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people in Wales. Further information on eligibility, including how to make an application, can be found here:

• Guidance for applicants
• Application form
• Privacy notice

I am also pleased to provide additional detail on the fund for grassroots organisations, which we will launch later this year. At least £600,000 has been ring-fenced over the next three years specifically for grassroots organisations. My officials are currently developing a procurement exercise to identify a partner organisation to deliver this on our behalf. This delivers on a key action in the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan to identify a specific ring-fenced resource to support grassroots cultural, creative and sporting activities among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups. I am also currently considering proposals from our national sponsored bodies. I will provide a further update on both the grassroots fund and the work that will be delivered by our national sponsored bodies in due course.

Members will know that I am committed to delivering the goals and actions in the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan and the Programme for Government commitments within my portfolio. I look forward to our continued progress as we deliver meaningful change with and for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people across Wales.