Agenda item

Report of the Managing Director of BHE

The Committee considered a report of the Managing Director of BHE seeking the Grants Committee’s endorsement of a grant of £1.5 million towards a new programme run by the Baring Foundation (TBF) (charity no. 258583) to promote and develop the use of human rights-based approaches (HRBAs) for London based civil society organisations, using international and domestic human rights laws to support practical, real-world protections for individuals and communities facing discrimination and disadvantage. The Managing Director of BHE introduced the report and presented the proposals to the Committee, which would be submitted to the BHE Board if endorsed.

In response to a question from a Member as to whether the proposals could generate an issue of conflict with the City of London Corporation in its capacity as a local authority, the Managing Director of BHE advised that whilst it was right to highlight a potential area of conflict, this could be mitigated and managed as appropriate if necessary, adding that some work in this area had been done over the course of the governance reforms in respect of the charity.

With regards to the focus of the project and any leverage arising from a contribution from BHE, the Managing Director of BHE advised that there were many funders in this space, including TBF, and that whilst this would be a sole partnership project, around 20 other organisations would be involved in consultation on and development of the programme. The Managing Director of BHE confirmed that the project would be London-focussed and that all organisations involved in the ultimate programme may not be London-based, with this being dependent upon the output of the development phase; however, BHE funding will be subject to conditions for its expenditure in Greater London. The Committee was further advised that, as an Alliance Partnership rather than a regular grant, the reserves held by TBF were not an issue in respect of the proposals.

The Chair then commented that the proposals insofar as they were supported by BHE funding were aligned with the aims, funding policy and objects of BHE and the Alliance Partnerships programme, before drawing Members’ attention to the proposals, which were agreed.

RESOLVED – That the Grants Committee of the Bridge House Estates Board, in the discharge of functions for the City Corporation as Trustee of Bridge House Estates (charity no. 1035628) and solely in the charity’s best interests, endorse to the BHE Board a grant of £1.5 million over five years to the Baring Foundation (charity no. 258583) to develop and deliver a programme to promote and develop the use of human rights-based approaches (HRBAs) for London based civil society organisations.