A YOUNG woman who has launched her own company to give black women and girls a platform has donated £15,000 to black initiatives.

Cat White, 25, from Oxford, founded Kusini Productions with the aim of changing the narrative and championing the voices of black people.

As well as producing a new film, she set up a ‘Kusini Inspires Black and British Impact Fund’, providing three grants of £500 for projects that will make a positive impact in the black community.

Ms White said: “In these times, it is more important than ever to share examples of the incredible things that black people are doing.”

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One of the winners is Sandra Frivet who runs Caribbean Meals on Wheels. She delivers Caribbean food in Newport, South Wales, to elderly Windrush generation individuals who do not have their families nearby.

Another winner is Venus Ashu who has set up Visual Celebration of Black Life where she plans to gather a crew of creatives to produce a short film that celebrates the beauty and joy of being black.

Community A.I.D run by Jay Wrighter has also been awarded a £500 grant. Jay will use his network of young black professionals to help nurture the younger black community in East London and develop their knowledge and confidence in the corporate and business world.

Ms White is also in the process of making a film called Farewell She Goes inspired by the real life of Dido Elizabeth Belle, an 18th century mixed race heiress.

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Cat White and Isabella Speaight, co-creator of Farewell She Goes

It explores female friendship, race and women’s rights. Ms White said: “In light of recent events, this story has never felt more important.

“In placing a friendship between a white and a mixed race woman at its heart, where race is relevant but not dominant and where the bond of sisterhood trumps marriage, we are telling a story of possibility.

“It is the creative and artistic embodiment of the statues that are being pulled down around the country as we speak.”

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Although the project has been in conception for nearly two years, almost all of the fundraising and production has been done during lockdown.

For more information about Kusini Productions, go to kusiniproductions.com.