ANTI-Racism Cumbria have been given an investment of £200,000 from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

The funding was granted following a rigorous application process based on Anti Racist Cumbria’s aims to strengthen the bonds in communities, help local people build vibrant, confident places where they can fulfil their creative, human, and economic potential and to contribute to a just and anti-racist society, where those who need it most have their rights protected, the opportunity to speak and be heard, and the freedom to express their creativity.

Co-founder and CEO Janett Walker said: “One of the things that Covid showed us is that those who are genuinely essential are often overlooked and underpaid; we believe that every part of our work is as important as the other.

"Why should I be paid more than anyone else when our community work and social media posts are as crucial as our meetings with MPs and business leaders.

"By flattening the pay-structure we lead by example, we walk what we talk, and we walk together, being paid the same empowers each of us to be valued and to contribute.

"We are humbled and grateful to have been granted the funding from Esmée Fairbairn to help make our plans for a county a reality, a place where everyone can contribute fully and reach their full potential.

"It is an endorsement of our work to date and approach to making changes in the future and we give thanks to Esmée Fairbairn for their faith in us.”

During the organisation's recent Summit, Anti Racist Cumbria announced their plans for the county which centres around supporting those who want to become anti-racist.

The organisation has created an eight Step Programme to support businesses and organisations to become anti-racist, and will also be enhancing their existing work with schools and creating grassroots projects.

Laura Lines, Funding Manager at Esmée Fairbairn Foundation said, “Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is committed to tackling injustice and inequality, and to addressing structural and systemic racism in the UK both as an organisation and through the work we support.

"We are delighted to support this pioneering work with unrestricted funding, so that Anti Racist Cumbria can evolve and develop their plans over the next three years.”