What is the Bicentenary commemorating?
25th March 2007 marks the bicentenary of the passing of the Bill abolishing the trans-Atlantic slave trade on British ships.
Why does the Big Lottery Fund see this as important commemoration?
The passing of the 1807 Act was a historical milestone for Britain and the rest of the world. It is seen widely as a key contribution to ending slavery across the Caribbean and beyond in the 19th century. It also had a significant influence on further emancipation movements and social development over the following two centuries. In addition, it was a significant step towards our modern democracy, in which all are equal before the law and have an equal stake in their own governance. Furthermore, both local geographical communities and many minority ethnic communities in the UK have particular heritage legacies relevant to the anniversary.
Why did Big Lottery fund see it as important to get involved?
Many public bodies will be marking the commemoration in different ways including events and projects, seeking to raise awareness of the bicentenary. But local communities will also wish to put on events and explore the bicentenary in ways relevant to them. We have a clear remit to support community level activity, including activity relating to local and community identity. So there is a clear role for us in ensuring that funding is available for such events and activity.
What is Big Lottery Fund doing around Slave Trade Abolition commemoration?
Besides this site we will continue to work with our fellow Awards for All funders and develop other marketing and PR opportunities to raise awareness of the Bicentenary.
Where is the money for projects likely to come from?
We envisage that most of the projects we support will receive funding through the Awards for All programme. There is no particular programme or ring-fenced budget for bicentenary.
Who will be funded through Awards for All?
We expect to fund the full range of types of organisation eligible for the programme, including community groups, charities, social enterprises and schools.
What types of projects will be funded?
We expect a range of community projects to receive funding. They may have a historical, cultural, educational or artistic nature. The projects could bring together people within and across communities to commemorate the bicentenary. This could include events, meetings and performances as well as educational or heritage projects exploring the slave trade and its legacy. Projects may choose to focus on modern-day implications of the slave trade whilst others may take a historical approach.
Isn't the slave trade just of interest to certain communities?
The bicentenary is an important commemoration for the entire UK and we expect it to be of interest to a range of communities in the UK. It is true that some ethnic minority communities living in the UK and some local areas have particular heritage relationships to the slave trade. However, the principle of ending slavery is fundamental to our nation's efforts to be free and democratic - a principle that is relevant to all. In addition, there are a wide range of contemporary issues which resonate with the campaigns to end slavery, which communities might want to explore through the occasion of the anniversary, for instance campaigns about the use of child soldiers.
