London Solidarity fundraiser looks to keep people safe & fed through winter

If you've been following our work during this difficult year you may have noticed a trend in some of our publications. We've highlighted how the virus has in many cases brought the best out of a number of communities. The success of a number of OBV alumni in community outreach on the ground and even online has highlighted this very fact. It would be fair to say that the last 7 months has seen the National outlook on what it means to be an activist change. From the world of sport, to local efforts to feed the homeless and protect the most vulnerable, we've seen the will for change matched with the right ideas to make a difference where it counts, and now more than ever this is being magnified.

The latest of these comes from the London Solidarity Federation, a coalition of community and solidarity resources who state their aim as working together to ‘address wealth imbalance in our local areas.’ The fundraisers highlight the need to help people through the second lockdown as being the motive behind their latest redistributive efforts.

The pandemic has left many who were already struggling even worse off. Picture courtesy of Nick Fewings.

The group were able to raise £24,000 over the course of six months earlier this year, and this has been used to support a growing number within the capital. As of now residents of Herne Hill, Goose Green, SE15, SE16, and Newham are able to access these finances which are funded by ‘financially secure’ individuals and small businesses within these postcodes.

They’re supported on the basis of monthly and one-time donations and of course, as part of the coalition’s agenda help is available to anyone, including those that are undocumented or ineligible for government funds. This is then administered based on what they describe as ‘the principles of trust, solidarity and respect.’

Having raised £3,327 of their £10,000 target progress has been made toward their latest crowdfunding effort, but the economic conditions which brought upon the coalition in the first place, will leave many wondering whether the support will be here to stay, given that we remain far away from normalcy. To add to this, with the nation’s economic forecast appearing troubling due to the pandemic, there is room to question whether community driven redistributive efforts may become commonplace. But is this even desirable?

At what point do well meaning efforts to bridge the impact caused by the pandemic’s effect on communities become reflective of wider failings at national and local level? Or is this simply just the reality of the hard hitting times we find ourselves in?

In any case, it's another example of communities coming together to find solutions to address the problems of today.

Leave a comment across any of our social media platforms to let us know what you think.

Mayowa Ayodele

.....................................................................................................................

A call to action...

For 24 years OBV have fought to ensure black and minority ethnic participation and representation in civic society. Efforts in continuing to do so though, relies on your help. That way we can continue this fight for greater race equality. What would give us a tremendous boost is if today, you made that small donation yourselves, but even more importantly if you encouraged others to do likewise.