This is Peter Minet Trust’s first strategy since introducing our fresh approach to funding in 2019, when we changed from awarding small one-off grants to around 40 charities a year to awarding large, unrestricted multi-year grants to a smaller number of local, community-based charities in Lambeth and Southwark.
Since 2019 we have run two open funding rounds, working alongside 13 multi-year funded partners. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, we worked with other local funders for the first time, leveraging additional funding for the Southwark and Lambeth Community Response Funds. As a result of learning, Peter Minet prioritised Black-led charities in its second Open Fund round in 2022.
Steps forward
We have learnt about the positive impact of our ‘open and trusting’ approach to funding. We have also implemented a values-based investment strategy, diversified our Board and strengthened our governance. We share our journey with the funding sector and learn about emerging funder practice through our engagement with IVAR’s Open and Trusting campaign as well as London Funders, Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF), Community Southwark and local funder networks in Lambeth and Southwark.
What we've learnt from funded partners since 2020
During this time, we have learnt much more about the inequitable and hostile funding environment experienced by Black-led organisations in Lambeth and Southwark from our funded partners and other local groups. As our Chair sets out in her Chair's message, this is time to refresh our strategy, our values, our model and take account of changes in the external environment and the urgent need for change.
Our new strategy - grantmaking, investments, local ecosystem
Our new strategy has considered all our assets – our grantmaking, our investments, our funded partners, the local ecosystem, other local funders and friends, and our people – and set out our three strategic aims.
The strategy has been developed by our Board, chaired by Tracey Fletcher, and our Director, Rachel Oglethorpe, with Board facilitation and consultancy from Kate Chester at Animo Leadership. The expertise and insights generously shared direct and anonymously by our funded partners have been central and we would like to thank the leaders of our current partners, Felicia Boshorin (Spring Community Hub), Winston Goode (Juvenis), Issa Issa (Bright Centres), Christian Johnson (CEF Lyncx), Adrian Jones (Your Story), Pauline Nandoo (Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers) and Charlotte Prendergast (Southside Young Leaders Academy), their teams and their clients.
Rachel Oglethorpe, Director