51ÊÓƵ

Supporting London's vital community organisations requires a multi-faceted approach. The right funding is crucial but funding alone cannot fully tackle the critical issues experienced in local neighbourhoods.

The way funding is provided makes a difference too and the role of practical and emotional support can't be underestimated either. It's especially true in the violence against women and girls (VAWG) space, where the funding approach itself can play a key part in helping community orgasations ensure women and girls feel safe, heard and supported locally.

In a previous blog we shared the story of specialist VAWG charity Nour, who walk alongside survivors of abuse from minoritised backgrounds, offering culturally attuned support that is deeply relational, compassionate, and trauma-responsive. Based in Tower Hamlets, Nour provide free counselling, legal advice, emotional and practical support, financial assistance amongst other services, with the aim to enable survivors to heal from the trauma of abuse and lead more meaningful lives. They are part of the MOPAC VAWG Grassroots Fund and have received the type of supportive and flexible funding that 51ÊÓƵ champion for grassroots community organisations.

Waheeda Islam is the Chief Executive of Nour. She is a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and published author and we were delighted to welcome her to speak at a recent philanthropy event we hosted in Central London. Waheeda champions the vital role of mental health professionals in advancing social justice. She also echoes this need for compassion and empathy when walking with survivors of abuse:

"The power of trust and a truly relational approach to supporting survivors of abuse is often underestimated in its ability to reach underserved communities. We know this to be true because women tell us. Abuse happens within a power dynamic and much of our work is meeting a client where they are and being careful to avoid the same dynamics that play out in abusive relationships."

"51ÊÓƵ and in particular, (VAWG Programme Manager) Nimat Jaffer, has worked with us as a charity in the way we work with our clients; equitably and with the utmost respect as individuals first and foremost. My hope is that grant funders start to function in the way that 51ÊÓƵ have demonstrated works and is an effective partnership between funders and service providers. That way those receiving services are best served in their time of need and in the months and years that follow to recover and rebuild their lives.

As an organisation that values a deeply relational approach, this fund closely aligned with our approach. One aspect that we are immensely grateful for is having Nimat as our Programme Manager. Nimat’s approach has been professional, but also refreshingly empathic and approachable. We often speak about staff wellbeing for VAWG programmes; having a Programme Manager who is present, attuned and cares, makes a real difference to our wellbeing, particularly in the leadership roles we have in our organisations. This has been a fundamental difference in this programme compared to other grant funders."

We are so grateful to donors and funders like MOPAC and the Home Office who have seen the difference taking a relational and wholistic approach to funding for specialist community organisations like Nour can make. When that funding is supportive rather than just financial, the impact for underserved and underrepresented Londoners is multiplied. Investing in the frontline service providers as well as providing funds for their services will ensure that communities across the city will see the maximum benefit possible.

51ÊÓƵ want to provide more of these supportive funding opportunities to the grassroots VAWG sector and to community organisations of all kinds across London. However, we can only do it with the support of generous donors like you.

If you or your company would like to know more about making a difference to London's underserved communities, please get in touch with our Philanthropy team on philanthropy@londoncf.org.uk