BBC Children in Need has pledged to match the £10m funding offered by the grime artist Stormzy to tackle racial injustice in the UK.
Like Stormzy, the charity will offer £10m over 10 years towards developing a new funding programme dedicated to supporting young black people to achieve their full potential.
The project will be developed in partnership with BBC Radio 1Xtra.
Young black people will be involved in the design and delivery of the programme, the charity said, from naming it to reviewing grant applications and deciding how funding should be allocated.
A spokeswoman for BBC Children in Need said this meant that it was not yet clear whether charities would be invited to apply for a share of the funding, but that these details would be announced in due course.
The charity hopes the funding will support young social entrepreneurs in making a difference in their local communities, to develop young leaders and youth leadership, to enable access to education and learning, and to develop young people’s skills and confidence for work.
In a statement, the charity said the programme represented “a significant further commitment” from the charity to tackle issues affecting young black people, and to “remove barriers and create opportunities”.
Stormzy said: “Further to making my pledge last month, I’m happy to hear that the BBC has also taken up my plea for others to pledge. I’m also pleased to know of its commitment to allow young black people to decide where the money will be spent and I believe this decision is an imperative factor in supporting and strengthening the young black community. We continue to urge others to join us in pledging.”
Kenny Imafidon, a trustee of BBC Children in Need, said: “Over the past few weeks, some of the systematic and institutional racism that exists in the UK has been laid bare open for all to see. This racism is not new and many people from the black community, like myself, have had to endure the negative effects of it all.
The charity had been “really inspired by Stormzy’s pledge”, he said.
“I am excited about this new fund and I truly believe that this is the beginning of greater things to come, as we continue on our mission to support children and young people most in need,” he said.