The approach that we, as a family, have chosen to take in our grantmaking is one of humility – of trying to redress the paternalistic power imbalance that a lot of philanthropy has, and continues, to perpetuate. At the core of our ethos is the desire to overcome issues of inequity, and so incorporating an awareness of the privileges that have helped us to flourish is an important way of helping to realise our vision for a fairer society.
The Illegal Immigration Bill looks likely to be passed, with devastating ramifications for the asylum system. The “aim” of the bill is ostensibly to stop people crossing into the UK via small boats. The implications of the bill, however, are far broader and will capture most people who seek asylum in the UK.
The Symondson Family was first made aware of Cirencester Foodbank when a taxi driver friend of theirs explained to them that during lockdown, he became a volunteer driver, delivering food and household essentials to people in need across 210 square miles of the south Cotswolds.
The pandemic and cost of living crisis have had huge implications for the mental wellbeing of children and young people. 1 in 6 children have a diagnosable mental health problem (up from 1 in 9 in 2017), and the state provision for supporting children and their families is woefully inadequate.
If you happened to tune in to Classic FM on the eve of the King’s coronation, you would have had the exceptional experience of hearing ORA Singers perform numerous regal-related pieces, including new, original compositions, and interspersed with readings by Simon Callow.
According to The Social Mobility Commission, the UK has one of the worst rates of social mobility in the Western world, with many socioeconomic inequalities widening during an individual’s time in education.