A CHARITY that supports ethnic minorities in Southend is under threat after it failed to secure funding from the council.

The Southend Ethnic Minority Forum was set up in 2004 to help deliver services and support to ethnic communities in the Southend area and have operated by relying on funding from Southend Council’s In-Year Grants programme in the past.

The competitive programme issues small grants from an annual pot of £25,000 and have supported the forum since 2011 with small grants from £1500 to £2000.

But because it is a competitive process, the funding was not automatically renewed and, this year, was awarded to other organisations, leaving the charity facing cutbacks and limiting of services if they wish to continue their work.

Addressing the issue at a full council meeting, Council Leader John Lamb said: “The application made by Southend Ethnic Minority Forum earlier this year was unsuccessful for two reasons.

“Firstly, the group accounts showed they already hold sufficient funding reserves to pay for the activity they were proposing.

“Secondly, the fund’s main purpose is to support new start-ups and fresh projects rather than continuing to pay for ongoing activity.

“I believe our reasoning is sound and fully agree with the decision made. I would like to stress this decision in no way reflects on the work done by the forum.”

Ahmad Khwaja, Chair of the Southend Ethnic Minority Forum, said: “I feel that we have been unfairly treated.

“A colleague did some research and noticed several groups that are well-established had been supported.

“They also say we have reserve funds but we are required to retain a minimum amount to comply with the Charity Commission’s guidance. If we use these funds to cover our running costs then we will not comply as the funds will disappear.”

In the past, the charity has worked with the council to provide their officers with opportunities to share vital information with hard-to-reach communities.

Mr Khwaja added: “The work we do is no longer being officially recognised by the council for some reason and I have no idea why.

“We know they are working in financial constraints and would have expected a smaller amount but not an outright refusal.”

Although they have not yet determined how they will deal with the lack of funding, Mr Khwaja believes they will have to make serious cutbacks if not suspend services altogether.

“It will be the ethnic minority communities that will suffer the most. Integration is extremely important in our environment at the moment with post-brexit hate crimes as well as long-term systematic problems that exist.

“It is so important we continue to tackle racial tensions in the area and lack of funding makes this incredibly difficult.”