After three successful years distributing over £100,000 to LGBT and HIV community groups in Brighton and Hove, the Rainbow Fund has reviewed how best it can contribute to a strong local voluntary sector.
As part of this review, the Rainbow Fund will look to develop a new structure to govern and administer the fund, separate from the Sussex Community Foundation, who currently administer it. The Rainbow Fund will transfer from the Foundation and set up open and transparent processes for its future administration.
Paul Elgood, Chairman of the Rainbow Fund, said: “It seems the right time in our growth to look at alternative ways to manage the administration and grant giving of the Rainbow Fund. We have had three productive years with the Sussex Community Foundation which worked well for us as a new organisation. Now that we have an established track record and growing income it is a good point to look beyond this first phase of our development.
“I am grateful to the Sussex Community Foundation for their work in developing the fund with us, and their support in taking this way forward.
“The really good news is that the Sussex Community Foundation remains as committed as ever to funding the LGBT/HIV sector and so this move will increase the potential opportunities for the funding of these groups.”
Kevin Richmond, Chief Executive of Sussex Community Foundation, said: “Sussex Community Foundation is proud to have been part of the birth of the Rainbow Fund. It has raised a lot of money for the LGBT Community and we are pleased that it is now in a position to become an independent charity in its own right. We are sure that the Rainbow Fund will continue to grow and thrive and we wish it every success.
“For our part Sussex Community Foundation remains committed to the LGBT community and will continue to raise funds for, and give grants to the groups we have supported together. Hopefully the new arrangements should lead to even more money being raised for the community.”
Much of this years grant giving by the Rainbow Fund came from the £1 a head donated to the fund from every ticket sold for Brighton Pride.
Paul Kemp from Brighton and Hove Pride CIC, said: “The role the Rainbow Fund has played in the last four years has resulted in volunteer led voluntary LGBT/HIV organisations being able to flourish and plan for their future in a way they have never been able to do before. This has helped them develop and deliver better front line services to the LGBT in Brighton and Hove and we look forwarded to raising even more money for them to continue their work in the coming years.”
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