Islington equalities chief apologises to Black community leaders over grant money delay

Town Hall equalities boss Cllr Sheila Chapman. Photograph: Islington Council

Islington’s equalities chief has pledged to “build back bridges” with the borough’s Black community following a row over unspent grant money.

It comes after opposition councillor and Green Party co-leader Benali Hamdache criticised the stagnation of initiatives for Black-run businesses and community organisations.

During last week’s full council meeting, Cllr Hamdache asked what had become of £50,000 in grant allocations for the Black Leaders Alliance which had seemingly gone unspent.

He spoke of the “broken token of trust” between the Black community and the Town Hall, saying: “I have met leaders from the Black Leaders Alliance who felt bitterly disappointed by the promise of money and the lack of follow-through.”

Cllr Sheila Chapman, executive member for equalities, communities and inclusion, explained that in 2023, council officers recommended the money be repurposed to support the creation of a “Black cultural centre”.

She apologised and conceded that the “teams involved could and should have been more proactive in realising that the original allocation of money wasn’t being used to achieve the strategic aims for the Alliance”.

“I appreciate that, as an organisation, we’ve lost goodwill from some of our Black community leaders and organisers,” Cllr Chapman continued.

She said the reallocation of the £50k was approved in March, and that the council has since secured a venue.

“The project hasn’t gone the way that was originally planned, but there is such an exciting opportunity here to create a Black cultural centre that residents can be justly proud of,” she added.

After the meeting, Hamdache posted on X: “Appreciate the apology. Work to be done to repair damaged relationships.”