NW BME network to lose £25,000

The regional infrastructure network for black and ethnic minority organisations in the North West will have its funding reduced by £25,000 when Capacitybuilders closes next year. BME networks in the other regions stand to sustain even deeper cuts and may struggle to survive.
"The end of Capacitybuilders' core funding [to the regional networks] is a blow to the essential representation and support services they provide to the fragile and often unheard BME voluntary and community sector," said Arjumand Kazmi of Voice4Change, a national support organisation for BME charities.
Generic regional networks will also lose funding. Richard Caulfield, chief executive of Voluntary Sector North West, said: "Fortunately we have strong reserves and significant lottery funding, which means we can operate for another 12 months from April 2011 with a slightly reduced staff team."