BLM UK to fund ‘people’s tribunal’ for deaths in custody

source: The Guardian
published: 17 February 2021

Black Lives Matter UK has announced £45,000 of funding to the United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) to set up a “people’s tribunal” for deaths in custody.

The coalition group of family members who have lost loved ones in state custody, formed in 1997, is so far the largest recipient of Black Lives Matter UK’s initial round of funding.

Black Lives Matter UK announced last month its plan to release more than £100,000 to black-led organisations across the country. The campaign group received £1.2m in donations via a GoFundMe appeal, following widespread protests last summer [2020].

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National Mikey Powell Family Fund & UFFC launch Crisis Family Fund

source: 4WardEverUK
published: 27 February 2021

The National Memorial Family Fund launches its new funding stream called the Crisis Family Fund on 1 March 2021 in partnership with the United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC).

The Crisis Family Fund will be generally open for applications (subject to available resources) for urgent needs of affected families in-between the standard grant rounds programme which is only open periodically.

This will be a fast-track process for urgent requests only. Family Fund Assessment Partners will largely drive the application process, with quick decisions made by the Family Fund volunteer team.

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Mental health triage scheme recognised internationally

Benjamin Zephaniah for 4WardEverUK & CI Sean Russell – The One Show 2014

source: West Midlands Police
published: 14 April 2018

A specialist emergency response unit which offers immediate assessments to suspected mental health sufferers in the West Midlands has been recognised internationally – after counterparts from Australia visited the region to learn about best practice.

The Mental Health Triage scheme sees West Midlands Police officers joined by psychiatric nurses and paramedics to attend calls from people who are believed to be suffering from mental ill health.

The successful police and NHS partnership means patients get on-the-spot assessments at their home or on the street and can be taken to safe health facilities for the support they need rather than held in police custody.

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