Black and Global Majority communities have shaped British culture for generations.

From the sounds dominating charts to the grassroots spaces where young people discover their creativity, communities experiencing racial injustice continue to be at the forefront of artistic and cultural innovation. Black music, for example, has been identified by UK Music as a driving force behind the UK music industry over the past three decades.

Yet many of the organisations rooted in these communities face underinvestment, underrepresentation in leadership, and ongoing challenges to their long-term sustainability.

So why are so many organisations led by and for Black and Global Majority communities still being asked to do more with less?

The evidence is clear

Across the creative and cultural sector, the evidence points to persistent racial inequity in both leadership and access to resources.

Creative UK's State of the Creative Industries 2025 found that while people from ‘ethnic minority backgrounds’ make up 15.9% of the UK workforce, they hold just 9.8% of management and director-level roles across the cultural sector. This means there is significant gap between contribution and decision-making power.

The same pattern is reflected in funding. Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, IVAR and Pathway Fund shows that organisations led by Black and ethnically minoritised communities are less likely to receive funding and investment, more likely to be operating at a smaller scale, and often have less access to the flexible funding needed to build long-term sustainability.

And, Pathway Fund's Funding Justice report found that 76% of Black and ethnically minoritised-led organisations surveyed believed they had been refused funding because of their race or ethnicity.

These inequalities affect who gets to build organisations, shape cultural activity and create opportunities for future generations.

Youth Music's Born into Music, Locked out of Power research found that 36% of 18-25-year-olds from Global Majority backgrounds can see a future career in music. Yet they are almost half as likely as their white peers to see themselves represented in music industry leadership. 

The talent and ambition are clear to see. But access, opportunity and power remain unevenly distributed.

Rising costs, growing demand and an uncertain funding landscape mean many leaders are spending more time securing short-term funding than investing in the long-term health of their organisations. Project funding is essential, but it doesn't always provide the space to strengthen governance, develop future leaders, invest in staff wellbeing, build reserves or create new income streams. Yet these are the things that help organisations survive and thrive.

That's why organisations consistently tell funders they need more flexible investment - to plan ahead, respond to challenges and build the foundations needed for long-term sustainability.

A different approach to funding

The Recharge Fund: Racial Equity has been designed in response to this evidence.

The £2.4 million programme will provide flexible core funding to organisations led by and for communities experiencing racial injustice that work creatively with children and young people across England. Analysis of Youth Music’s funding data from the last two years has shown that Black and Global Majority-led organisations are much more likely to reach children and young people from those communities. On average, 72% of their participant pool was young people from Black and Global Majority communities, compared with 31% for other organisations.

Organisations can apply for up to £120,000 over four years, using the funding in ways that best meet their needs. This could include leadership development, governance, wellbeing support, fundraising, strategic planning, digital infrastructure, workforce development or other core organisational costs.

Investing in a fairer future

This fund recognises lived experience as expertise, and will ensure investment in organisations that are deeply connected to the communities they serve. And ensuring that the organisations driving cultural innovation have the stability and support they need to continue their work.

We expect to support around 20 organisations through the programme, creating a cohort that can learn together and build long-term resilience.

Applications for the Recharge Fund: Racial Equity open on 16 October 2026 and close on 4 December 2026. Alongside a streamlined one-stage application process, applicants will have access to workshops, webinars, one-to-one support, access support and application access funding.

Youth Music's Recharge Fund: Racial Equity is made possible thanks to National Lottery funding via Arts Council England.

A note about language

There are many different terms used to describe the communities we want to support with this fund, i.e. people who experience racism and racial injustice. These include BAME, Global Majority, people of colour, Black and Brown communities, ethnic minorities, minoritised communities; and those who have been racialised as ethnic minorities.

In referencing these communities we will sometimes use the term "Black and Global Majority". This was the most favoured option in our consultations. We know that no single term feels right for everyone, because individuals have different identities and experiences of racism. Many are uncomfortable with grouping communities by race or ethnicity because of the harm these labels can cause. We recognise that this term is therefore imperfect and not everyone will identify with it. 

In making decisions, our focus is on communities who experience racial injustice – not terminology. We believe it's important to name racial inequality directly, because these communities have been underfunded for a long time and still are. 

We use the language chosen by the author when quoting external sources and evidence. This is to maintain authenticity and consistency with their definitions.

Thanks to the National Lottery via Arts Council England for making this fund possible.