Building a community centred abolitionist movement

Synergi has always existed to shift power, knowledge, and resources to grassroots communities. We know that Black and Global Majority led grassroots groups often get little to no funding. Yet their work is vital as they are building community led alternatives to mental health care within a system rooted in systemic racism. 

So Synergi took a different approach to distributing funding. During a time of sharp escalation in racial violence and harm we distributed funding to 61 grassroots community groups doing this work, totalling £318,386. We call this Reparative Resourcing. 

Our new report, Reparative Resourcing, shows what is possible when Black and Global Majority communities are resourced. Built from in depth conversations with community leaders, the report showcases the ways that grassroots groups have built community-led alternatives to the systemic racism of the mainstream mental health system.

Within these conversations grassroots groups have shown us that: 

• Having space to dream of alternative ways of doing things should not be a luxury 

• Slowness and intentionality can be tricky within an environment that promotes scarcity 

• It is possible to do things differently if we have the time and resources to do so 

• Care and accountability must coexist within this work 

• Black and Global Majority-led movements need to be cared for and nurtured 

Whilst the resources we were able to distribute through these programmes achieved a lot, we also know that this is only a small part of what Black and Global Majority led community groups need to be able to do their important work. Our report highlights some of the challenges these groups face – and invites funders to step in to provide effective solutions. 

 You can read the full report below. 

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