Home Office announces support for groups tackling extremism

16 Sep 2016 11:03 AM

The Home Office today launched a programme of support for frontline organisations working to challenge extremism in their communities.

Organisations with a track record of promoting community cohesion and tackling extremism are being encouraged to bid for support as part of the first wave of the Building a Stronger Britain Together programme. This 4-year initiative delivers a key strand of the the government’s counter-extremism strategy published last year and aims to promote and strengthen positive mainstream voices across Britain.

Sarah Newton, Minister for Vulnerability, Safeguarding and Countering Extremism, said:

We are Great Britain because we are a proud, diverse society united by values such as democracy, free speech, mutual respect and opportunity for all.

Extremists threaten these values, promoting hatred and intolerance and causing harm to communities and individuals. This includes far right groups who encourage anti-Muslim hatred and anti-semitism. It also includes those who deny women the same rights as men to education, work or justice.

Across the country organisations and individuals are standing up to extremism and the harm it causes. As we work to build a country that works for everyone, we are determined to support them and, by empowering mainstream voices, drown out those who seek to divide us.

Groups can apply online for in-kind support up to a value of £75,000, or grant funding up to £50,000. In-kind support might include social media training, help setting up a website or advice on media activity. Grant funding will be given for clearly defined proposals, for example a project to help 15 to 18 year olds find full-time employment after leaving school in an area where far right groups are attempting to recruit vulnerable young adults.

There will be a new call for bids for each new financial year to make sure the funding has impact across all 4 years, and to make sure that support is always given to groups doing the most relevant and innovative work.

Further information about applying for support is available.