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African Challenge Scotland dedicated to supporting BAME communities

African Challenge Scotland is delighted to be partnering with ng homes to support the BAME communities through funding from Barclays, The National Lottery, MEARS Group, Refugee Survival Trust, Impact Funding Partners through the Scottish Government Wellbeing Fund, Jacobs Engineering and East Dunbartonshire Food bank.

The support has been crucial for the communities. Our food parcels, Tesco vouchers and deliveries helped people from African and Caribbean backgrounds to get foodstuffs that they know and traditionally eat, but can’t get from other food banks. Another important element of our support is how this has helped people to keep contact with Africans in the wider community and helped to keep their spirits up.

The commitment of our volunteers and the support received from ng homes and other partner organisations to provide basic groceries to local families during lockdown has been truly remarkable and amazing.

We have managed to get out and about around Lanarkshire to support families and save lives. With the support from many partners we led and coordinated a weekly emergency food delivery to more than 1975 hardpressed and self-isolating African families (over 7,578 people) across Glasgow, Paisley, Renfrewshire and Motherwell, just to list few, throughout the emergency period. A big thanks to all our amazing volunteers, local elected members, our partners and all our funders who have made this possible. In recognition of the hard work, African Challenge Scotland received two motions from both the Westminster and the Scottish Parliaments.

Due to the fantastic work and commitment by our staff and volunteers we have a very strong and exciting programme planned for 2021, and beyond, including new partner opportunities and new volunteers with the African Challenge Scotland team.

African Challenge Scotland’s short and long-term projects during this pandemic included:

  • Homework clubs with mentors
  • Participatory budgeting leading to entrepreneurship
  • Support with CV’s, college and university applications for STEM subjects
  • COVID-19 Resilience Response Programme
  • Free Homework Help Classes for children and young people
  • Women’s Support Group
  • Mental Health support
  • Asylum seekers and refugees support

Throughout the coronavirus crisis, the internet is keeping us connected to friends and family, informed and entertained, and able to learn, work, shop and access health information and other public services. However, many BAME families can’t access these benefits because they don’t have the confidence, kit and connectivity at home. We are doing everything we can to support the community and get them online as it has been an essential lifeline for what has been a very difficult year. African Challenge Scotland have distributed Chromebooks and 24 months free internet access to families who are on a low income and who are digitally excluded. We have thanked the #ConnectingScotland programme, and funding from the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and SCVO which has made this possible.

African Challenge Scotland works to empower, improve and transform the quality of life of the deprived and less engaged African Communities in Glasgow and Scotland.

www.africanchallengescotland.co.uk
[email protected]

Registered Office: 151 Balgrayhill Road, Glasgow, G21 3AN
Registered Scottish Charity Number SC046055

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