A partnership of charity infrastructure bodies has appointed the Ubele Initiative as a partner to support Black and minoritised community led voluntary sector organisations and social enterprises.

Ubele will lead the Enterprise Development Programme (EDP)’s Black and Minoritised Community Enterprise Development Programme, which aims to set up a ‘national strategic alliance’ to support community wealth building among minoritised communities.

This will involve up to 12 black and minoritised regional infrastructure groups working with local organisations.

“The Black and Minoritised Communities Enterprise Development Programme (BMEDP) is a necessary response to an urgent need for longer term strategic enterprise-led interventions to the Black and Minoritised VCSE sector,” said Ubele’s founder and director Yvonne Field.

The EDP has been developed and is funded by Access – the Foundation for Social Investment to bring together infrastructure bodies to support enterprise models in charities and social enterprises. Social Investment Business is also involved to provide a management role.

Its sector themes cover equality, homelessness mental health and youth and sector partners include the Association of Mental Health Providers, The Centre for Youth Impact. Homeless Link and Equally Ours.

“Developing viable enterprise models in charities and social enterprises is a key way to build resilience,” said Access chief executive Seb Elsworth.

“It is also a precondition of being able to utilise social investment.

“We are delighted to be working with The Ubele Initiative and a range of partners to further expand the EDP to the Black and Minoritised Communities sector, both to directly support dozens of organisations and to help strengthen the vital infrastructure for the sector in the longer term.”

The Ubele Initiative is an African Diaspora led social enterprise founded seven years ago.

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