Voice4change England Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1.7 million+ (distributed through partnership programs)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Up to 4 weeks (for membership applications; varies by fund)
• Grant Range: £500 - £150,000 (varies significantly by program)
• Geographic Focus: National (England), with regional targeting for specific funds

Contact Details

Website: http://www.voice4change-england.co.uk/ (also https://www.voice4change-england.org)

Email: info@voice4change-england.co.uk

Phone: 0207 485 4789

Address: Kosmos Centre, 2c Falklands Road, London, NW5 2PT

Overview

Voice4Change England (V4CE) was launched on November 1, 2010, as an independent national membership organisation that advocates for the Black and Minority Ethnic voluntary and community sector (BME VCS). The organisation has distributed over £1.7 million in grants through partnerships with major funders including the Home Office, Comic Relief, Sport England, Mind, and the Pargiter Trust. V4CE operates as an intermediary funder, administering targeted grant programs that strengthen the BME voluntary and community sector to meet the needs of disadvantaged communities. Beyond grant-making, V4CE provides capacity building, advocates to policymakers on sector issues, and runs major initiatives including the 10-year Horizons London Programme focused on tackling race inequality in health, housing, education, and environment. Director Kunle Olulode MBE leads the organisation, which is governed by a Board of Trustees made up of elected members and founder representatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

V4CE administers grants through time-limited partnership programs rather than from its own endowment. Recent and current programs include:

Energy Resilience Fund (Current)

• Investment range: £10,000 - £150,000
• Grant component: Up to 40% of total investment (where justifiable for cost reduction)
• Energy Audit Grants: £500 - £2,500
• Terms: Flexible loans from 12 months to 7 years with 6.5% flat interest rate (12% APR)
• Focus: Retrofitting energy-saving technology on community-owned buildings
• Eligibility: Incorporated community or social enterprises in England

Race Equality and Infrastructure Flexible Fund (Current/Recent)

• Grant amount: Up to £50,000 for up to 1 year
• Partner: Comic Relief
• Focus: Capacity building and infrastructure services for BME infrastructure organisations
• Geographic coverage: 6 regions including East of England, East Midlands, North East, South East, and Yorkshire and the Humber
• Eligibility: BME-led infrastructure organisations with over 50% of trustees/board or senior staff from BME groups and at least 80% of beneficiaries from BME groups

Past Programs (Examples of V4CE's Grant-Making Approach)

• Windrush Community Fund (Home Office): £497,000 to 27 organisations over 2 phases
• Together Fund (Sport England): £260,000 to 28 organisations for sport and physical activities
• Pargiter Trust Partnership: £43,500 to 9 organisations for health, wellbeing, advice, and training support for those aged 65+ in Black and Minoritised communities
• Covid-19 Emergency Fund (Mind): £396,900 to 42 organisations for mental health advice, support, and wellbeing activities

Priority Areas

V4CE's funding priorities center on:

• BME-led organisations: Supporting organisations led by and serving Black and Minority Ethnic communities
• Infrastructure development: Building capacity and strengthening organisational resilience in the BME voluntary sector
• Race equality: Addressing systemic race inequality across key areas including health, housing, education, and environment
• Community empowerment: Strengthening voices of disadvantaged communities
• Specialist support: Funding projects that address specific needs within BME communities (e.g., older people, mental health, physical activity, immigration support)

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions vary by program, but generally:

• Organisations without significant BME leadership or beneficiary representation (for BME-focused funds)
• Projects outside England
• Organisations without proper governance structures (minimum 3 people on governing body)
• Funding requirements vary by partner-funded programs

Ready to write a winning application for Voice4change England Limited?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Director: Kunle Olulode MBE has led Voice4Change England and advocates nationally for the BME voluntary and community sector. He was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to the BAME sector.

Governance: The organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees comprising elected members and original founder members. V4CE actively recruits trustees including specialist roles like treasurer.

Kunle Olulode on Funding Philosophy:

On short-term vs. long-term funding challenges: "So, we're back in a short-term situation without wishing to be. But needs must. I can understand that priorities are shorter-term support and to prop up the frontline. But where does that leave us in the future?"

On funder accountability and impact measurement: "All of that information they had been asking for over the years, they didn't know what to do with it. For example, they had no collated data around the BAME sector, even though we had been sending it to them." This reflects his criticism of excessive bureaucratic requirements that may not serve their intended purpose.

On sector challenges: He noted that “the average community organisation and charity from BAME backgrounds still has an average turnover of less than 10K,” highlighting the need for funders to understand the context of small BME organisations.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Application methods vary by program:

• Time-limited application windows: Many V4CE funds have specific opening and closing dates (e.g., Race Equality Fund closed January 24, 2025)
• Information webinars: V4CE regularly hosts webinars to explain eligibility criteria, what they fund, the application process, and key dates
• “Meet the Funder” events: V4CE holds regular events to unlock funding opportunities and connect with potential applicants
• Online applications: Specific portals provided for each funding program
• Pre-application support: Available through webinars and information sessions

Decision Timeline

• Membership applications: Up to 28 days to process, with acknowledgment within that period and welcome pack sent upon approval
• Grant decisions: Timelines vary by specific funding program and partner requirements
• Applicants typically receive acknowledgment of receipt and are notified of outcomes within the program's specified timeframe

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly available, but V4CE's track record shows:

• Windrush Community Fund: 27 organisations funded over 2 phases
• Together Fund: 28 organisations funded
• Pargiter Trust: 9 organisations funded
• Covid-19 Emergency Fund: 42 organisations funded
• Race Equality Fund: 7 organisations funded

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies depend on the specific funding program and partner funder requirements. As V4CE administers time-limited partnership funds, unsuccessful applicants should monitor for new funding rounds or different program opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Leadership Perspective on What Works

Director Kunle Olulode emphasizes that V4CE is “more aware of what needs to be done” regarding BME sector support, with funders “perhaps slightly more active in addressing those needs.” However, he advocates for:

• Long-term sustainability over short-term fixes
• Meaningful data collection rather than excessive bureaucracy
• Understanding context of small BME organisations with limited resources

Funded Project Examples

African Women's Impact UK (Pargiter Trust Fund - £5,000):

• Facilitated in-person sessions where digital champions taught IT skills to BME women over 65
• Delivered 40 sessions over one year for a group of 25 women
• Emphasized welcoming environment and 1-2-1 support for participants learning at their own pace
• Focus on practical skills development for older BME communities

Stockwell Good Neighbours (Windrush Community Fund):

• Engaged community through arts and entertainment
• Held two main events plus additional informative sessions in Lambeth and Lewisham
• Promoted awareness of Windrush Scheme documentation and Compensation Scheme

Application Tips

1. Demonstrate BME leadership: For BME-focused funds, clearly show over 50% BME representation in governance/senior staff and 80%+ BME beneficiaries
2. Attend information sessions: V4CE provides webinars and “Meet the Funder” events—use these to understand requirements and ask questions
3. Show capacity building potential: V4CE values projects that strengthen organisational infrastructure and resilience, not just service delivery
4. Address race inequality: Explicitly connect your project to tackling systemic race inequality where relevant
5. Community-centered approach: Emphasize how your project empowers and serves disadvantaged BME communities
6. Infrastructure credentials: For infrastructure funds, demonstrate your role in supporting other BME organisations
7. Practical impact: Use concrete examples like the African Women's Impact UK case study showing measurable activities and participant numbers

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• V4CE is an intermediary funder: They distribute grants through partnerships with larger funders rather than from their own endowment, so funding availability is time-limited and varies by program
• BME focus is central: Most programs specifically target BME-led organisations serving BME communities—ensure your organisation meets the representation thresholds
• Watch for program announcements: With time-limited funds, you must monitor V4CE's website and communications for new funding rounds
• Infrastructure matters: V4CE values building sector capacity and organisational resilience alongside direct service delivery
• Engage proactively: Attend webinars and “Meet the Funder” events to build relationships and understand specific program requirements
• Small organisations welcome: V4CE understands that most BME community organisations have turnover under £10,000 and designs programs accordingly
• Partnership approach: V4CE provides capacity building support alongside funding, offering additional value beyond the grant itself

References

1. Voice4Change England website - About page: https://www.voice4change-england.org/about
2. Voice4Change England website - Current Funds page: https://www.voice4change-england.org/current-funds
3. Voice4Change England website - Past Funds page: https://www.voice4change-england.org/past-funds
4. Voice4Change England website - Case Studies (Pargiter Trust): https://www.voice4change-england.org/pargitertrustcasestudy
5. Voice4Change England website - Windrush Community Fund case study: https://www.voice4change-england.org/windrushfundcasestudy
6. Voice4Change England website - Team page: https://www.voice4change-england.org/team
7. The Charity Commission - VOICE4CHANGE ENGLAND LIMITED (Charity No. 1140624): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1140624
8. 360Giving GrantNav - VOICE4CHANGE ENGLAND LIMITED: https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/GB-CHC-1140624
9. Civil Society News - "Kunle Olulode: 'Representation on its own is not enough'": https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/kunle-olulode-representation-on-its-own-is-not-enough.html
10. Civil Society News - "Strong leadership is 'more important than ever'": https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/finance/strong-leadership-is-more-important-than-ever.html
11. Third Sector - “Minority-led organisations are being overlooked, Voice4Change England director warns”: https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/minority-led-organisations-overlooked-voice4change-england-director-warns/fundraising/article/1707940
12. Voice4Change England - Team Interview: Director, Kunle Olulode MBE: https://voice4change-england.com/team-interview-director-kunle-olulode-mbe/
13. Companies House - VOICE4CHANGE ENGLAND LIMITED: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07322971