A world of difference through local giving

Nick Perks is co-ordinator of the Environmental Funders' Network

Charity did begin at home. Until the 20th century, most philanthropic activity was concerned with proximate need, from the ancient livery companies caring for members of their craft, to almshouses for the elderly, to trusts bequeathed for the poor of the parish or other groups in need.

However, there is also a long tradition of charity which seeks to care for those further afield, either directly (the International Committee of the Red Cross dates from 1863) or by tackling underlying causes (Anti-Slavery International was founded 1839). In 2010, the British public gave an extraordinary £106m to the Disasters Emergency Committee for Haiti.

Environmental concerns are also both local and international. Care for particular landscapes and local communities has motivated environmentalists from John Muir to Richard Mabey. Yet, at least as far back as Rachel Carson’s seminal 1962 book Silent Spring, which first brought to general public awareness the dangers of pesticides, environmental scientists and activists have drawn attention to systemic problems. Pollution does not recognise state boundaries, and we all depend on the resources of one world. 

Our latest publication, Funding Locally, Thinking Globally, draws on both these traditions – the desire to make a difference locally, and the concern for the common good. The booklet brings together six case studies of local projects that are also contributing to a more sustainable world.

The examples are very diverse. They have been supported by different donors, and tackle different issues in different ways. However, these local projects with a global outlook share some common characteristics.

These are all projects that are planning for the future. The Howsham Mill project in North Yorkshire is not merely rescuing an old building, it is installing an Archimedean screw that will generate both clean electricity and sustainable revenue. In Over Haddon in the Peak District, the easy course of action would have been to replace the deteriorating village hall with the cheapest option; instead they have built one of the most energy efficient building in the country – reducing running costs just as energy prices continue to climb.

The projects meet multiple needs. The Tynedale Transition group builds social networks as well as reducing environmental impact. It is just one example of the Transition Town movement, a community-led response to climate change which began in Totnes in 2005, and is now active in many countries around the world. Fishing for Litter South West benefits the commercial fishing fleet by reducing the damage caused by marine litter, whilst simultaneously improving the marine environment. It’s a model which is being replicated in other fisheries.

They offer incredible value for money. All of the projects rely heavily on local volunteers and the passion that people have for their own communities. A grant of just £2,000 to Stop Stansted Expansion in the early stages of the campaign helped to build momentum and draw in other donations and voluntary effort. Seven years of hard campaigning later, the incoming coalition government reversed the policy of aggressive airport expansion.

There will always be needs, challenges and opportunities for philanthropy locally, nationally and internationally. As the world becomes ever more interconnected, there may be a temptation for philanthropists to put all their money into Westminster, or Brussels, or Geneva. However, funding locally does not mean funding parochially. Local communities are a place for both innovation and implementation. Local projects can be scaled up, local ideas can go viral, and local campaigns can tip the balance in national policy decisions. Everywhere, there are local people who have global vision, and want to be part of building a better world.

Funding Locally, Thinking Globally launched at the Environmental Funders Network Autumn lunch on 11th October. 

Nick Perks is coordinator of the Environmental Funders Network, an informal network of trusts, foundations and philanthropists interested in environmental issues.

Nick Perks is co-ordinator of the Environmental Funders' Network
nick@greenfunders.org