Growers Grant Update

UPDATE: Growers Grants for Black people and people of colour

Hi Everyone

Firstly we want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has applied to our Growers Grants. We want to thank you for your energy and effort in writing and submitting your applications. We also want to thank you for your patience and understanding as we have taken longer than expected sorting through applications.

Right now the Panellists are giving their final thoughts as they narrow down which applicants will be the successful grantees.

Initially we only had enough money to distribute 67 grants, but due to our panellists commitment and desire to create more grants for the many amazing applications we received, they have managed to secure an extra £15,000.

Because of the astounding number of brilliant applications from people across the country with differing levels of needs, the deliberation process has been a lot longer and complicated than we imagined.

LION is a very small team with 4 people working part-time. We are still learning and growing in lots of ways. So thank you again for understanding. We have been so grateful to our panellists, Jyoti Fernandes, Andre Reid, Laurèl Hadleigh and Dr Hannah Jones for their tireless work in this selection process. Please bear with us a little longer as we finalise everything. We hope to email everyone by the end of this week or at the most the beginning of next week.

We hope larger organisations and funders will offer more opportunities for micro-grants like these. There is a need and desire for more Black people and people of colour to get into growing. Having more "no-strings-attached" funding opportunities which will empower people of colour to pursue their hobbies, healing and careers in growing food.

Thank you, 
LION and the BPOC Growers Grants panellists and working group