Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Alok Sharma announces grants boost for small international development charities

By Alok Sharma,                                                                                                Secretary of State for International Development

British Asian communities across the UK have a strong – and inherent – desire to help others. We are motivated by the will to do good and to give others a chance to thrive, both here in the UK and around the world.


Both as a constituency MP and as International Development Secretary, I am very aware of how British Asians are striving tirelessly and selflessly to support UK charities delivering assistance in developing countries.

This fantastic work is helping to reduce poverty around the world and is making a real difference to people’s lives.

That is why I am delighted to announce an opportunity for those small international development charities to get a UK aid boost.

The Department for International Development’s Small Charities Challenge Fund launched last week (Thurs 5th). It offers development charities across the UK a chance to apply for grants of up to £50,000 to help in their work supporting the poorest people around the world.

This money will also make a huge difference in their ability to deliver on the frontline.

The successful pilot of this scheme committed £3.5 million to 74 small charities delivering a diverse range of projects, such as the Rosie May Foundation which is supporting victims of and people vulnerable to human trafficking in Nepal.

The Hertfordshire-based charity, Carers Worldwide, is another example of where this money has already had a meaningful impact.

The charity, run by Anil Patil, supports unpaid carers in Nepal, Bangladesh and India, who are looking after members of their families with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

Anil and his team are offering these carers emotional support and healthcare. The charity is also helping them generate a sustainable and independent income, which is a huge boost to carers living below the poverty line. This is making a real difference to people’s lives and I am proud my Department supports their incredibly valuable work.

If you have a small charity like Carers Worldwide that is working to support the world’s poorest people, then I encourage you to apply to the Small Charities Challenge Fund. Alongside funding, we offer specialist support and advice to make the application process straightforward.

Together, through UK aid, we can ensure the strong desire of British Asian communities to help others around the world can go even further.

To apply for an SCCF grant, and for more information, go towww.ukaiddirect.org/apply/sccf/

More For You

Why this was the year of governing anxiously

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer at the state opening of parliament in July after Labour won the general elections by a landslide

Why this was the year of governing anxiously

THIS year was literally one of two halves in the British government.

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer each had six months in Downing Street, give or take a handful of days in July. Yet this was the year of governing anxiously.

Keep ReadingShow less
‘Debate over assisted dying raises risks for medical staff’
Supporters of the ‘Not Dead Yet’ campaign outside parliament last Friday (29) in London

‘Debate over assisted dying raises risks for medical staff’

Dr Raj Persaud

AFTER five hours of debate over assisted dying, a historic private members’ bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons. This is a stunning change in the way we as a nation consider ending our lives.

We know from survey research that the religious tend to be against assisted dying. Given Asians in the UK tend to be more religious, comparatively, it is likely that Asians in general are less supportive of this new proposed legislation, compared to the general public.

Keep ReadingShow less
‘It’s time for UK-India ties to focus on a joint growth story’
Kanishka Narayan (centre) with fellow visiting British MPs, Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma (left) and other officials

‘It’s time for UK-India ties to focus on a joint growth story’

Kanishka Narayan

FOUR months since my election to parliament, I had the opportunity to join my parliamentary colleagues on a delegation to India, visiting Delhi and Jaipur for conversations with our Indian counterparts, business leaders and academics.

I went to make the case for Indian investment in my constituency and across the UK.

Keep ReadingShow less
‘Ministers must unveil vision for bridging societal divides’
(From left) Professor Ted Cantle, Sunder Katwala, Sara Khan and John Denham at the event

‘Ministers must unveil vision for bridging societal divides’

Sunder Katwala

“SOCIAL cohesion is not the absence of riots.”

John Denham put that central point pithily at the ‘After the Riots’ cohesion summit last week.

Keep ReadingShow less
‘Policy reforms should not halt development’
Environmental policies and grid delays are slowing the delivery of new homes

‘Policy reforms should not halt development’

Amit Bhatia

SINCE 2006, Summix has specialised in securing planning for strategic land and urban, mixed-use regeneration projects.

Working with our development partners, we have successfully delivered more than 6,000 homes in the UK. We continue to bring forward strategic residential development sites with over 18,000 homes in our current pipeline, including a new settlement for 10,000 homes at Worcestershire Parkway, which was recently referenced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her inaugural speech.

Keep ReadingShow less