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A review of the activities of Britain Yearly MeetingCM of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in 2019MY CY
CMY OUR K FAITH OUR WORK
In Friendship, welcome
Welcome to our review of 2019 – a year that we can celebrate for achievements in our work and generosity You can read from our supporters. Our faith in the future and find out more Throughout the year we worked to This review shares the developments, about it at: support the vision of Our faith in the campaigns and new ways of working that www.quaker.org.uk/ future, where: the organisation focused on in 2019 to future. support these aims. It also reports on • Meeting for worship is the bedrock of our financial results and the key statistics living as a Quaker, that describe the Quaker community in • Quaker communities are loving, Britain today. inclusive and all-age, • All Friends understand and live by As a review of 2019, it was predominantly Quaker discipline, written before the Coronavirus pandemic • Quaker values are active in the world, reached the UK. Whilst we rightly celebrate • Quakers work collaboratively, the strengths of a largely successful year, • Quakers are well known and widely we know that the measures introduced to understood. address this health emergency have had a significant impact of our work in 2020. This will be reflected in future reports.
In September 2019 hundreds of Quakers and members of other faiths came together in peaceful worship to protest the DSEI arms fair. Looking back from the lock-down period of 2020 makes this sight even more remarkable. Letter from the Recording Clerk
How can we walk with a smile into the dark? We must learn We know that the inequalities and to put our trust in God and conflicts of the world will not have the leadings of the Spirit. gone away and may well have been Gordon Matthews, 1987 exacerbated, at global level, and closer Quaker faith & practice 29.01 to home. More than ever, the world will need there to be thriving, confident As I write these words, much of Quaker communities – both as places the world is in quarantine from the of refuge and as sources of strength. Covid-19 pandemic. And by the And more than ever we will need bold, time you read this document, principled action to take us towards the world will have changed, the world we seek. and changed again. Reading about the work of Quakers in During this crisis – and when we walk Britain in 2019 already feels like a into the unknown of a post-coronavirus different era! Nevertheless, we look world – Britain Yearly Meeting will back on the year’s work with a sense of be here to support Quaker meetings achievement and the work deserves to in their worship and witness, and to be celebrated in this report. embody the community Quakers in Britain want to be. At times of darkness, it is all the more important that we follow the leadings Thank you. of the spirit in our lives, and the same is true of our Quaker work. The world In Friendship, is crying out for peace, and for just responses to the climate crisis. The coronavirus outbreak is teaching us much about how to simplify our lives, and is reminding us of what is most important to us: love, community, peace & equality. Paul Parker Recording Clerk
4 Letter from the Clerk of Trustees
a local level. We have spoken out Looking back from mid Covid-19, publicly as BYM on matters core to I appreciate more than ever the work our beliefs – from climate justice of our staff, and the service and financial to taxation – and continued to contributions of Friends that meant we support QUNO Geneva and could achieve so much during 2019. It has other international witness. made it possible to reimagine many services throughout the pandemic and will enable us In 2019, we spent more than to adapt with renewed commitment to a we received from Friends post-Covid world. Thank you all. and their meetings to deliver specific work. During the Informed by Central Committees and pandemic, we will draw down on Meeting for Sufferings, Trustees seek to reserves – largely built up over the years ensure that all our centrally managed work by generous legacies. We will need your leads towards ‘A simple church supported support more than ever, Friends, as we by a simple charity to reinvigorate emerge into a new world. This means Quakerism’. And while activities have had the centrally managed work can continue to adapt in recent months – and will change to deliver in your name and provide you further – our priorities for worship and with the support that you need in your witness to the world remain. local meetings as we “rise to theQuaker immense challenge of our world today” ( During 2019, we saw the success of faith & practice 29.17). providing support to Friends as close to their meetings as possible. Now we will Thank you. extend the current scheme, to have a Local Development Worker within reach of every In Friendship, meeting within five years. This accessible support, combined with central expertise on areas from safeguarding to Parliamentary engagement, can truly enable Friends to reinvigorate Quakerism locally. Caroline Nursey At the same time, the central work does Clerk of Trustees much in our name that we could not do at 5 In focus: Climate justice
Quakers in Britain are event on the day. She represented Quakers campaigning for justice for alongside leaders from Anglican, Buddhist, those who have been unequally Muslim, and Jewish traditions. affected by climate change. We’re calling for global climate An audience of mainly young people action that builds sustainable filled The Light to welcome the climate energy and economic systems. activist Greta Thunberg to Friends House. Organised with The Guardian and the A lot happened this year towards this office of Caroline Lucas MP, the event also goal! In June the Time Is Now mass lobby featured Caroline Lucas and participants for climate and environment saw 16,000 of the UK youth climate strikes. It was an people descend on Parliament to ask their inspiring example of how we can use our MPs to back bolder climate action. We building to support climate action. supported more than 100 Quakers to attend. A highlight of the year was of course September’s climate strike, the Greta Young Quaker Anya Nanning Ramamurthy Thunberg-inspired day of action. The sight made an outstanding speech to a of thousands of young people outside 1,000-strong audience at an interfaith Parliament demanding urgent action to safeguard their future was a source of hope for our planet.
We have been busy building stronger links with other faith groups working on climate to develop a more powerful and
6 In focus: Climate justice
climate justice and to put pressure on the UK and Scottish governments. The talks were scheduled for November 2020 but have been postponed to 2021.
We are working with Quakers in Scotland to develop a local response, and have joined an interfaith task group as well as 22% a larger coalition of NGOs and grassroots reduction to the carbon groups building up to the event. Over footprint the course of the coming year we will be of Friends providing support and resources to help House and compelling faith response to the crises we Friends explore the issue of climate justice Swarthmoor face. And we are taking every opportunity and take action. Hall, ensuring to speak out together: in November our a Carbon letter calling for funding and debt relief for Smart gold certification. poor countries hit by climate disasters was signed by eight other church leaders and published in The Times.
We ran seven workshops for Quaker meetings to explore the climate crisis, how it relates to economic injustice, and how to take action. These were well received, and more have been scheduled to happen. We have also developed session plans to enable Friends to run workshops themselves.
The lead-up to the UN climate talks to be held in Glasgow (COP26) provides an opportunity to build public support for
7 In focus: Allyship, diversity and inclusion
Our Sanctuary Everywhere “Sanctuary Everywhere makes a difference programme provides by helping to counter the negative rhetoric resources, support and advice in the media around race and migration. to almost 100 Sanctuary This underpins so much of the hostile Meetings in Britain. These environment, so countering it is key.” Being are Quaker meetings that are a Sanctuary working with others to create In 2019 we facilitated power & privilege Meeting a culture of welcome and sessions at Sanctuary gatherings and brought [our] change the laws on destitution, migration-related events. At a conference meeting detention and deportations. in September, organised with the Quaker together as a Asylum and Refugee Network and called community The work is a form of community ‘Envisioning a world that is open to all’, we because we’ve peacebuilding. By forging links across local heard from people who have experienced got a common communities, Quakers are building new the full weight of the immigration system. purpose to relationships and helping to reduce fear Our blogs and talks encouraged Friends work towards. and racial mistrust: to explore the intersections between the many forms of injustice. Whether it is related to migration, race, climate or the economy, it is important to address injustice as a whole.
Following an appeal, we succeeded in raising funds to sustain the programme for another year.
8 In focus: Allyship, diversity and inclusion
We are building capacity to discuss and raise awareness of the underlying issues. Crucially, we have begun some challenging conversations that we hope to continue at Yearly Meeting Gathering.
2,011 British Quakers responded to a diversity survey we conducted between November 2018 and March 2019. This is 9.3 per cent of the 21,575 members and It’s a fantastic achievement, and we are attenders recorded in the 2018 tabular 9.3% enormously grateful to all those who statement. It showed that although we of British supported the appeal. This extension are a diverse community in terms of Quakers allows us to consolidate the work done in gender and disability, we are mainly white responded to 2019. and middle-class. We will be sharing the the diversity detailed findings in a series of podcasts. We survey. The Sanctuary Meetings continue to act in hope this will be a useful way to start and findings will solidarity with newcomers to the UK. They fuel discussion among Quakers. be discussed hold weekly sessions to bring migrant and in a series of refugee communities together and open podcasts. their meeting houses to groups working on migration and racial justice. Many Friends visit people in detention and lobby their MPs on the immigration system.
BYM held its very first National Gathering on Diversity & Inclusion in 2019. Issues often come to the fore through things like lettings policies, so we have been visiting Quaker meetings to work through specific issues.
9 Meeting for worship is the bedrock of living as a Quaker
In worship we become one with pilot programme has been exploring the Spirit, with each other and whether locally based workers can with our true selves. The Spirit help Quaker meetings become more is the source of strength and connected, confident and sustainable. guidance for all we are and do. Four development workers, each serving a Our way of worship is open to region of Britain, have supported meetings all, and we are making it more with issues ranging from property to widely known. mental health.
Move closer An interim report found that meetings Since 2016 our Vibrancy in Meetings valued this support. Some have made
Support offered by Vibrancy workers Signposting to BYM Listening, or Woodbrooke 1,250 encouraging and staff, volunteers contacts with reassuring (25%) meetings and or resources (18%) individual Friends, Connecting recorded by to other the vibrancy Other types of individuals, team, during support (5%) groups or the pilot resources programme For major (18%) projects (8%) Facilitation of Reviewing sessions to help existing activities form ideas or or processes (11%) plans (15%)
10 Meeting for worship is the bedrock of living as a Quaker
changes to reduce the demands on role- Simply does it holders, while others said the programme Now in its second year, our Simpler has helped to bring them together as a Meetings project continues apace. The community. project is about finding and sharing ways to run Quaker meetings more The programme came to an end in 2019, simply, reduce the burden on role-holders, and its findings were published in April and free up time and energy for spiritual 2020. There were over a thousand growth, witness and outreach. instances of support, of varying nature, recorded by the team. The pilot has We have gathered a wealth of possibilities been transitioned into a new programme for change, including simpler property of meeting-centred support. Over the management, alternatives to having next five years we aim to place a local a meeting house, and simplifying our development worker within reach of processes around nominations for every Quaker meeting in Britain. We will committee service. Videos and documents also create a number of regional hubs or suggesting ways to simplify can be found clusters of Quaker staff, moving central on our website, and meetings are already work closer to Friends. putting things into practice.
11 Quaker communities are loving, inclusive and all-age
All are heard, valued and supported, both in our needs and our leadings. Everyone’s contribution is accepted according to their gifts and resources. All are welcomed and included. There are clear and effective ways of working together on shared concerns. Fellowship and fun strengthen the bonds between us, 6 presidents enhancing a loving community. represent the 52,000 impressions on Twitter and reached 51 members of Together alone 73,000 people on Facebook, sparking 985 CTE in 2019 brought our turn to nominate comments. various church one of the six Presidents of Churches groupings. Together in England (CTE). We The impasse means the Fourth BYM is in nominated Hannah Brock Womack, a President position is being represented the Fourth Quaker peace activist who campaigns by an ‘empty chair’. We are now working Presidency against the arms trade. Sadly, a small with CTE to use this as an opportunity Group. number of CTE Member Churches for discussion and learning. We have long Quakers rejected our nomination because they do fostered diversity work among Churches can appoint not accept same-sex marriage, and Hannah and faiths and know that progress is often a president is married to a woman. made by working with those who disagree every four with us. years, in turn. This has put a strain on our interfaith relations, compounded by widespread Ageing well media coverage bemoaning the rejection We help Quakers build communities that (BBC, Premier Radio and the Church are open to all. For the first time we held Times). Of all our social media posts in our outreach conference as an all-age 2019, it attracted the most interactions. event, welcoming Quaker families and Our statement on the issue received children to Woodbrooke. More than 80
12 Quaker communities are loving, inclusive and all-age
Speak (for) your mind Our Mental Health in Meetings project aims to empower meetings to understand and live with issues and challenges around mental health.
We designed a workshop to get Quakers talking about the subject. ‘Opening the door to conversations about mental health’, which was delivered nine times in 2019, was Friends of all ages spent the weekend well received: “To me it was a safe space together, in worship, workshops and to talk about difficulties that individuals joyful conversation. They explored allyship, and meetings may encounter in relation to inclusion, connecting with our communities, mental ill health.” Download Mental and building a presence on social media. health conversations We also produced an accessible from our website: In the summer we held a follow-up event resource called Mental health www.quaker.org.uk/ with Woodbrooke called ‘Being a Quaker conversations. It is a timely contribution documents/mental- parent’. Over a dozen families, from to the debate among Quakers about our health-conversations. newborns to grandparents, gathered to response to mental health issues. It draws share experiences and insights and to build on conversations with Friends who have a vibrant network of Quaker parents and experience of mental health problems, and carers. explores the topics they chose to discuss.
We are developing new ideas and resources to better reach out to families and local communities, and will continue to model all-age community at other Quaker events. We’d love to hear from meetings experimenting with growing all-age community, so do get in touch!
13 Quakers work collaboratively
We are well aware that we Our Peace & Disarmament and Turning can’t put the world to rights the Tide teams lent valuable support by all by ourselves. We value the publicising Roots of Resistance and its aims. important work of others. By We provided meeting space for many of 700 engaging with them we are its briefing and planning meetings, and people already changing the world. We delivered several workshops in support attended the meeting want to break down barriers; of its organising drive. for worship we refuse to prejudge who is or blockading is not an ally. In the week leading up to the arms fair, the arms fair we joined other faith groups in a No Faith Strong roots in War day of action. A highlight was the In September the biennial DSEI arms afternoon’s 700-strong meeting for fair took place in London. Our response worship – so powerful! And 150 people was a fruitful collaboration with Roots of came together at a peace vigil we held Resistance, a new grassroots network of with Pax Christi. Quaker peace activists.
It was incredibly inspiring to see so many spirited peace activists from a variety of faith traditions, all united for peace. The day of action succeeded in strengthening community and grassroots peace activism.
14 Quakers work collaboratively
resources. This includes education packs for schools in English and Welsh.
In May we released Razor wire & olive branches, a resource pack for use with secondary school students. Produced with our EAPPI team (see page 20), it explores identity, human rights and peacebuilding in Palestine and Israel. Our Parliamentary Engagement Officer spoke to Members of the Scottish Parliament about the pack, and its accessible format was widely praised by teachers. Peace-full progress The teaching pack The work of our Peace Education team is Turning online Razor wire and olive highly collaborative. In 2019 it joined groups There are two strands to BYM’s Turning branches is available such as Peace Pathways, a member of the Tide programme: it trains and supports to order online from the Peace Education Network, to deliver groups in Britain to bring about positive the Quaker Centre peer mediation training to schoolchildren social change; and it works with local bookshop. in the North East. It also worked with partners in East Africa to build peace the University of Roehampton and the through nonviolent direct action and Learning Institute to train teachers in peace campaigning. education and to introduce the topic to more teacher training projects. In 2019 we worked with Woodbrooke to launch the first online nonviolence course 40,000 people An independent evaluation of our peace in Britain. Participants benefitted from engaged with education programme revealed we had practices and materials contributed by our our Peace engaged 40,000 people in 2018. It East African partners. The course was very Education praised the programme’s effective delivery well received and will take place again in programme of peace education sessions and the broad 2020 with new speakers, resources and in 2018/19 uptake of its online courses and teaching weekly webinars.
15 All Friends understand and live by Quaker discipline
Our discipline is actually ‘Letting go and letting God’: not ‘Thou shalt’ nor ‘I will’ but ‘What does Love require of us?’ It works when we understand it and practise it. Because we understand it, we can share it with others. Our testimony guides us, but we have to work on what it means for each of us personally. Uniting meetings In May over 1,200 Quakers gathered in London for Yearly Meeting. Its theme encouraged us to look through the lens of privilege at climate justice, and at diversity and inclusion. In the Swarthmore Lecture, Eden Grace reflected on the Friends acknowledged that these are We also know that we need to avoid too theological, spiritual difficult and potentially alienating topics. much introspection as this won’t help us and biblical grounding address the challenges ahead. But Friends of Quakers’ made a loving commitment to confront witness on climate these issues in the years to come. breakdown. The book, On earth Opening chapters as it is in heaven is The book of discipline revision committee available in paperback formally convened for the first time in and ebook formats January. Over the year they began defining from the Quaker the process and exploring the purpose of Centre bookshop. the update to Quaker faith & practice.
16 All Friends understand and live by Quaker discipline
The committee are working to ensure Meeting. Quakers from Prague and the that accessibility and inclusion are key to Philippines were among those to attend. these processes. As such, suggestions from Friends are welcome and more QWRC organised daily ‘programmed’ Send us your ideas opportunities to contribute will be meetings for worship, which, unlike those for the revision at https://forms.quaker. announced later in the year. in Britain, are not based around silence. org.uk/qfp-idea They were a valuable chance for British Friends from afar Friends to learn more about the different Quaker World Relations Committee forms of Quaker worship practised around (QWRC), which maintains contact with the world. Crucially, it taught us that such Quaker communities abroad, invited differences – far from dividing us – can several international Friends to Yearly unite us as a world family of Friends.
377,557 estimated number of Quakers worldwide in 2017, according to Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC).
17 Quakers are well known and widely understood
We are active in our local communities, reaching out in friendship, making more use of our meeting houses for events and renting or lending out. All members are ready and equipped to explain our Quakers Quaker way confidently and believe that clearly to anyone who asks, nonviolence as well as to speak publicly on needs practice issues of concern. We share throughout our practices as appropriate a lifetime, and that the and make full use of relevant passed in March 2019) – informed our grounding for media to reach out widely. In response to the bill. Quakers in Scotland a nonviolent an increasingly divided world, worked with the charity Children First, life starts in we try to offer ‘patterns which led to significant media coverage in childhood. and examples’ of a caring the Scottish and UK press. We therefore community. welcome In March, thanks to the raised profile of our this positive Peaceful childhoods work in this area, we were asked to give move towards Quakers in Scotland were closely involved evidence to the Equality and Human Scotland in the passing of a new bill that bans Rights Committee of the Scottish becoming parents from striking their children. The Parliament. Quakers in Scotland made a a more Children (Equal Protection from Assault) valuable contribution by demonstrating that nonviolent (Scotland) bill became law in November faith groups can hold progressive views on nation. 2019, marking significant progress in family life issues. Quakers in children’s rights. Scotland We hope this enshrining of children’s rights The views of Quakers in Britain – in Scottish law will strengthen nonviolent especially those of young Quakers and movements across Britain. Friends in Wales (where a similar bill was
18 Quakers are well known and widely understood
It also led to the first of two recent appearances on BBC Songs of Praise. The second marked 80 years since the 47,900 evacuation of 10,000 children from people on Nazi-occupied Europe, known as the Twitter saw Kindertransport. Marigold Bentley, our our response Head of Peace Programmes and Faith to Fleabag’s attendance Relations, was interviewed by Pamela of a Quaker Rhodes about Quakers’ vital role in the meeting. On evacuation. The episode was broadcast to Facebook, coincide with the 75th anniversary of the we reached Reveling in stillness liberation of Auschwitz. 15,500 “Friends often talk about the ‘Quaker people with way’ as shorthand for our conviction that Sociopathic media our tongue- faith should be lived out in every aspect An episode of Fleabag featuring a in-cheek of life rather than through individual acts Quaker meeting for worship – filmed reaction! or occasions. For me, trying to live out my at Westminster Meeting House – lit up faith helps give purpose to my life. Our our social media channels in March. We presence at Glastonbury was about seizing achieved huge reach by interacting with an opportunity to live out our values and users positively and with humour. The BBC to share them with others – to show that comedy-drama, and our warm reaction to we are a community with purpose.” it, helped us reach a younger audience that Jon Martin is less responsive to our regular posts. 203,500 In June, for the very first time, we took our We began running a #QuakerFacts series people silent worship to one of the loudest events to explore Quaker trivia and how Quakers attended on earth: the Glastonbury Festival. And have shaped the world. It led to some very Glastonbury it was well worth it! Hundreds of revellers popular blog posts. We’ll continue with Festival in swung by our tent to learn more about these in 2020. June 2019. Quakers and to experience our worship first-hand.
19 Quaker values are active in the world
Our lives speak peace, equality, welcome Benard Agona to Friends respect for the earth and all its House in London. Agona, who is National inhabitants. We offer friendship Coordinator for Turning the Tide Kenya, to all and solidarity to the spoke to eight groups of people and ten 106 marginalised. We speak truth key personalities about the work in Africa. nonviolent to power with love. We hold His valuable experience fed into other campaigns those in power in the Light. We BYM events during the year, including the supported find creative and nonviolent conciliation conference. by Turning ways to get our message the Tide East across. We are in this for the Accompanying change Africa. It’s long haul; we’re not afraid to The Ecumenical Accompaniment estimated the take risks. We are called to live Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI), programme’s in the place where our ‘deep which we run in the UK and Ireland, works activities gladness and the world’s deep for an end to the occupation of Palestine. reached hunger meet’. EAPPI trains groups of volunteers 10,733 people. to serve in the West Bank and East Welcome Friends Jerusalem as human rights monitors, or In September we were delighted to ecumenical accompaniers (EAs).
EAs provide both a protective presence in the field and powerful advocacy in the form of eyewitness accounts of life under occupation. In 2019, on their return from the region, British and Irish EAs took
20 Quaker values are active in the world
part in 139 speaking engagements and 96 meetings with politicians and religious leaders from a range of positions, parties and faiths.
The Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill progressed through the Lower House of the Irish Parliament (Dáil Éireann) in 2019. If enacted, it would ban trade between Ireland and conciliators, younger peace activists and Israel’s illegal settlements in the West Bank. two international guests who have worked EAs helped draft and develop this bill with Quakers to address violence in their from the outset, as recognised by the bill’s own countries. sponsor, Senator Frances Black. They celebrated past successes while To become law, the bill now needs the acknowledging future challenges for the backing of the newly elected Dáil members work. Britain Yearly Meeting no longer (following Ireland’s general election in enjoys the resources it once had, so how February). This is a momentous move: might we focus them to achieve maximum Ireland would become the first European impact? And some questioned the colonial nation to take firm action to oppose aspect of British Quakers helping to ‘fix’ continued illegal settlement expansion, and things in regions with links to the former the first to embed international law in its British Empire. trading relationships. You can learn more about the event and its Dining with Diplomats, Conciliation generations learning in a beautifully illustrated book Praying with Gunmen Quakers have long been involved in we published in March. Meanwhile, the is available in conciliation efforts around the world. In work continues, quietly. As one participant paperback and September we held an intergenerational said, “Respectful listening, impartiality, ebook formats from exchange at Woodbrooke to look and friendliness to all are the hallmarks of the Quaker Centre bookshop. at the future of this little-known work. Quaker conciliation.” Participants were a mix of seasoned
21 2019 2018finances finances – income at a glance
Generous gifts received during 2019 The income from our trading subsidiary, made it an exceptional year for legacy Quiet Company, was also down slightly on income. The value of this income in any 2018. This is income generated through particular year is, by its nature, highly conferencing, meetings and catering at variable, but these gifts form a vital part Friends House. Although 2019 was a of our income. We are grateful to all successful year for the company, with an those Friends who have remembered us increase in revenue, greater investment in with a gift in their will. the facilities and services at Friends House meant a smaller direct gift. Donations from individuals were down slightly from 2018 but contributions There was an increase in rental income from meetings were up by over £100k, from Drayton House, which is leased to providing a small rise in voluntary income. long-term tenants. We were bolstered further by the increased value of our
Income: £18,391,000
Legacies and Investment income: major gifts: £1,653,000 £7,392,000
Charitable activity: Contributions: £307,000 £2,224,000 Gains on Gifted from our investments: Grants and hospitality company: £5,261,000 sundry income: £1,030,000 £524,000
22 2019 finances – expenditure
investment portfolio. After a significant fall However, the challenge of raising recurring in December 2018, the market recovered income to meet the recurring expenditure throughout the following year. supporting our vision and plans for the future remains. For more detail Expenditure rose in line with inflationary about our finances, pressures and planned maintenance. There Improved income in 2019 meant we you can read the were further increases in expenditure as started 2020 in a stronger position and full 2019 report and we implemented Trustee priorities in line more able to face the financial challenges financial statements with the Our Faith in the Future vision created by the impact of the Coronavirus at www.quaker.org. agreed by Meeting for Sufferings. pandemic on our work, our earned uk/annualreview. income, investments and reserves. The Overall, 2019 was a strong year financially, full impact of these challenges is yet to with higher value from the variable income be seen. We’re grateful to everyone who streams of legacies and investments. supports us financially.
Expenditure: £9,883,000
Supporting Witness meetings: through action: £3,024,000 £2,937,000
Sustaining Promoting Raising money through events, church and faith: Quakerism: investments and fundraising: £1,033,000 £2,059,000 £830,000
23 Growing2018 Britainfinances Yearly at a Meeting...glance
Love is the will to nurture life and growth in oneself and in another… Thank you Quaker faith & practice 22.42 Your support makes a difference All the work featured in this review I give money is only possible with your support. to BYM Thank you for being part of ensuring because I the Quaker legacy will continue far Quaker Life think Quakers into the future. are a force for good in To find out more about how to the world. give through these means, and how But Quakers we use the funds we receive, email can only be [email protected]. & SocialQuak Witness effective er Pe ch Churith if there an & fa organisation ace which can Give money speak to the Increase Quakers’ world on impact in the world our behalf and which From empowering Friends to take Britain supports the their own action to coordinating Yearly Branches of work Meeting grassroots. national or international work, our central organisation gives us the Trottie Kirwan, means and the profile to make a real Quaker Sources of income Event fees impact. To find out how to support Donations this work with a gift visit from meetings Grants www.quaker.org.uk/givemoney. and individuals Lettings & hospitality Investment (Friends House & income 24 Swarthmoor Hall) Legacies Legacies ...nurturing Quakerism
If every Leave a legacy Friend gives Give Quaker work an average of a bright future £225 towards our national In 2019 gifts left in wills enabled us work we could to deliver core and new work that meet our the Quaker community want to target of £3m. Quaker see happen. This included engaging Life I know not young adult Friends, responding to every Friend forced migration and promoting will be able sustainability in the global Quaker to give this community. Your gift will help much, while & SocialQuak Witness Quakers take action on the key others will er Pe ch give more. Churith issues of tomorrow. ace & fa For more information visit In these www.quaker.org.uk/legacy. uncertain times, let us act Keep in touch together as a Britain Connect to the work community Yearly Meeting done in your name to bring Branches of work Quake! is the monthly e-newsletter our values for all Quakers in Britain. It covers and unique Quaker voice Sources of income Event fees Quaker life, worship and activism as into the world. well as the latest news, events and Donations from meetings resources. Sign up at: Linda Batten, Grants BYM Treasurer and individuals www.quaker.org.uk/quake. Lettings & hospitality InveInvestmentstment (Friends House & incomeincome Swarthmoor Hall) Legacies Legacies 25 In numbers
12,498 members
6,965 attenders
1,283 children not in membership
20,746 total Quakers in Britain
13.4% decline in membership over the last ten years
17% total decline over the last ten years
adult adult 54.5% women 33% men identify prefer not 2.5% as other 3.3% to disclose 6.7% children
26 Publication Information
The body text font used is Gill Sans Light. Credits: It has been chosen for its legibility and all photographs © BYM except pages 9 accessibility. Sans-serif fonts are most (top), 11, 12, 13, 16 (bottom), & 17 appropriate for readers who are partially (© Mike Pinches), pages 1, 14, 15 sighted or who have learning disabilities (© Michael Preston for BYM); (including, for example, dyslexia). Gill Sans all illustrations ©BYM except page 13 (© adds to this accessibility by using traditional One Line Man) and page 21 Roman character spacing, which is believed (© Lynn Finnegan for BYM). to further reduce the potential confusion between letters.
27 Quakers share a way of life, not a set of beliefs. Their unity is based on shared understanding and a shared practice of silent worship, where they seek a communal stillness. Quakers seek to experience God directly, within themselves and in their relationships with others and the world around them. They meet together for worship in local meetings, which are open to all who wish to attend. Quakers try to live with honesty and integrity. This means speaking truth to all, including people in positions of power. The Quaker commitment to peace arises from the conviction that love is at the heart of existence and that all human beings are unique and equal. This leads Quakers to put their faith into action by working locally and globally to change the systems that cause injustice and violent conflict.
Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Registered charity number 1127633 Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ Follow us on social media @BritishQuakers. www.quaker.org.uk
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