LION's Growers Grants for BPOC

Aug 18, 2021

Land In Our Names - Growers Grants for Black and People of Colour

LION Growers Grants For Black and People of Colour. Applications open 20/8/2021 - 12/9/2021. From window boxes to commercial growing, these grants serve to redistribute resources to black and people of colour. Applications are open to black and or people of colour that lack financial privilege. Below this text is an image of a window box full of flowering plants and a little white chicken. To the left of the text is a group of people of colour of different ages and ethnicities watering plants, weeding and planting out vegetables.

Image of a scarecrow with a red shirt in a field of narrow beds filled with lush green vegetables. A polytunnel is in the distance. The sky is vivid blue with a few fluffy clouds.

Three raised beds filled with green lush vegetables in a garden. A cute little shed is at the back of the garden next to a happy tree.

We are incredibly happy to announce that we will be redistributing over £29,000 in grants to Black people and people of colour who are either interested in getting into growing, investing in their already established allotment or back garden, investing in their learning and training or their projects/businesses. We have different grants available for Black growers and growers of colour to either take that first step or have that helping hand.

Black people and people of colour have been disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic in Britain. On top of this, BPOC are less likely to have access to green spaces and nature than their white counterparts. Taking this into consideration alongside the fact that agriculture is one of the whitest professions in Britain, we believe that it is necessary that we empower our BPOC community.

We will be recording an Instagram Live where we break down the different aspects of the applications. Join us and send us any questions you have and we will answer and help however we can. Friday 20th August at 18:30 - instagram.com/landinournames

We want this application to be accessible to Black and people of colour around Britain and Ireland. We want this to be for Black people and people of colour who want to take the plunge and buy their first bag of seeds and compost but also for Black people and people of colour who are setting up commercial and community growing projects.

Am I BPOC? You may identify as a BPOC (Black or person of colour) if you would fall under categories such as BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic). We will vet applications to make sure that all applications go to Black people and people of colour. Some examples include: People of African descent Asian descent (east, south-east, south or central) First Nations peoples & Pacific Islander people Latinx & racialised South and Central Americans Arab & other Middle East & Northern African ethnic groups Multiracial & mixed race peoples This list is not exhaustive and we rely on trust and honesty in applications.

Financial Privilege

We will be prioritising Black people and people of colour who lack financial privilege, or who might have some financial privilege, are low income, precarious, poor or working class.

Two terms which are mentioned in our explainer images are:

Basic Needs: include food, housing & transportation

Expendable Income: might mean you are able to buy coffee at a cafe, go to the movies or a concert, buy new clothes, books and similar items each month etc.

Low-income, has some financial privilege
I may stress about meeting my basic needs but still regularly achieve them
I may have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs
I own or lease a car
I am freelance or self-employed
I have some access to paid healthcare
I might have access to financial savings
I am able to buy some new items & I thrift others
I can take a vacation annually or every few years without financial burden

Precarious, poor, no financial privilege

I frequently stress about meeting basic needs & I don't always achieve them
I have debt and it sometimes prohibits me from meeting my basic needs
I rent lower-end properties or have unstable housing
I don't have a car and or have limited access to a car but I am not always able to afford petrol
I am unemployed or underemployed
I qualify for government assistance (universal credit, DSS etc.)
I have no access to savings
I rarely buy new items because I am unable to afford them
I cannot afford a vacation or I don't have the ability to take time off without financial burden

Click here for Application Form Applications open Friday 20th August 00:00 Applications close Sunday 12th September 23:59

Email completed applications to bpoc.growers.grants@gmail.com

Graphics and Illustrations by Javie Huxley

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