Women and Digital Inclusion – WODIN is awarded Enhanced Support by Lloyds Bank Foundation to Build Operational Capacity over 3 years.
Responding to the Cost-of-Living Crisis, Inflation, and what we call the “Syndemic,” Lloyds Bank Foundation stepped up and offered not only charities but also social enterprises like CICs, Constituted Groups and Benefits societies, in other words usually underfunded 3rd sector organisations, unrestricted funding and enhanced support across a 3 year period from October 2023.
Women and Digital Inclusion CIC is one of the 3rd sector organisations to be at the receiving end of this support. This is a pilot funding program that has expanded Lloyds Bank Foundation’s scope of who they fund beyond charities in the UK. And we at WODIN are so thankful and excited to be a part of this program.
“We represent black minoritised ethnically diverse women. People struggling on low incomes with various intersectionalities and inequities that make their lives a daily challenge. As an organisation, receiving this support and funding of £75k across 3 years will enable us to further build on the resilience and capacity we need. This will enable us to carry on serving our communities better for longer. The process of getting to become grant recipients required applicants to go through a 3-step process. This included two intense 2-hour interviews and then a panel decision. We are sure that many 3rd sector small, grassroots organisations would struggle to get through the first interview.”
WODIN CEO has this to say regarding this support: “This grant is God sent. Because it will enable our ability to build a long-term operational and business strategy, support staff time for project administration, and outreach campaigning. We believe this will more than double WODIN’s services in the community while attracting more stakeholders passionate about the same mission of Ending digital poverty to engender social equity. This puts WODIN on the right path to growth and it is huge for the work we do practically or economically. And for these and more we are grateful to Lloyds Bank Foundation.”
“The communities we get to serve better and for longer make it a very important milestone for WODIN because far too many people are finding it a challenge to survive due to the cost-of-living crisis and Inflation. We are committed to bringing the change that is much needed in ethnically diverse communities in Liverpool”
Notes to editors
About Women and Digital Inclusion (WODIN)
Liverpool has a highly transient community of Black Immigrants, many asylum seekers, or simply migrants seeking a new life. Over 60% are women and single mothers, who end up in the most deprived neighbourhoods, in less than desirable housing, isolated, poor, or with no access to digital resources to get connected with the community and/or family. They end up in social Isolation and digital poverty. The gap grows with a lack of employment and income to meet their basic needs, including subsistent needs like food. Black women also continue to be underrepresented in the employment and enterprise space.
WODIN’s purpose and hope is to change the above narrative via our activities, events, programs, and message. Our mission is to simplify access to digital resources and tools that are essential for day-to-day living and also simplify the usage of digital resources for Black African immigrant women and their families in Liverpool UK.
About Lloyds Bank Foundation Specialist Fund
Through unrestricted funding, support to develop, and influencing policy and practice Lloyds Bank Foundation helps small and local charities thrive, communities grow stronger, and people overcome complex issues and barriers so they can transform their lives. https://www.lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk/
Follow @LBFEW on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn and use “Lloyds Bank Foundation is an independent charitable trust funded by the profits of Lloyds Banking Group. They partner with small and local charities, people, and communities working towards a more just and compassionate society.”
Further information
For further information, images, and interviews please contact Mrs. Sylvia Kalungi at Women and Digital Inclusion (WODIN) at 07879053346 and/or email: wodinliverpool[at]gmail.com
