It has been amazing to see some of the responses coming in from our current survey of environmental charities and social enterprises.
The survey is designed to help us understand what the support needs are for organisations working to make a difference on climate and sustainability.
Our warm thanks to the Environmental Funders Network, Garfield Weston Foundation, Lightful, Social Enterprise UK, Pro Bono Economics, Reach, Charity Excellence, Sizzle, National Lottery, Esmee Fairbairn and the Green Infrastructure Partnership for help in sharing our call to participate.
The first to fill the survey out was the newest kid on the block. The Lewisham Donation Hub in South London was formally registered as a charity in the last few weeks, operating with twin, social and environmental objectives.
“Our once haphazard place of sharing is now beginning to feel like it's really finding its rhythm, along with the stability that has been tantalisingly out of reach for such a long time. Yet as we get better at what we do, an inescapable cloud remains firmly above us, etched with the words of 'why'?
The truth is, we really shouldn't have a need to be here. Those fleeing domestic violence, as was the case with our last support instance of the week, shouldn't be left isolated in an unfamiliar borough - without the barest of essentials to protect, feed and uplift the youngest of children. Those fleeing war and persecution shouldn't be marooned in hotels, devoid of the most critical of items that would help them to truly flourish. And those left homeless shouldn't be clutching at the threads of life on our streets...
Our society (and humanity more generally) has been manipulated into believing that what is important is what we accumulate. The dazzling adverts and unrelenting promotion of 'aspiration' in the form of ever more things has distracted us from the reality that so many have to endure (and of the environmental destruction that goes hand in hand).
We see things differently here. We draw our inspiration from the donation queues we see on Sundays, when those with the means make such effort to give what they have in order to support others. And we are driven to do ever more by those we support each week, who demonstrate the very best qualities one could hope to see in their efforts to bring hope and opportunity into the lives of their loved ones...
One day, we hope that charities such as ours will be made redundant by the overwhelming desire of those with the greatest power to support those with the greatest need. We are perhaps further than we have ever been from that future world.”
There is so much to admire in what is said here. It is a form of truth telling and I see it echoed in the work of so many other inspiring charities and social enterprises responding to our survey call.
In the UK, the number of environmental charities is growing at around 3% per annum and one in five social enterprises have a focus on the climate emergency.
How to support?
Well, if you are in Lewisham, then any Sunday can be your day to recycle what you don’t need by donating it through the Hub to those who do.
More widely, what we are exploring is creating a capacity building programme, recruiting people such as business employees to lend their time, expertise and passion to environmental charities and social enterprises like Lewisham Donation Hub, so they can be as effective as we all need them to be.
At this point, this is all about collaboration. So whether you are a business, charitable funder or another support provider, do let me know if you are interested to help shape what we can do to close the gap to a better future.
Action
We are asking environmental charities and social enterprise to fill in a fifteen minute survey on their support needs – and of course we will share the results as we look collaboratively at what can be done to meet these over time. Those who enter can be included in a draw for a social enterprise hamper to share.
We have just launched a Welsh language version of this which is here: https://bit.ly/3NZpyNv
English language version: https://bit.ly/3olMD2a
Survey closes Friday 2 June 2023.
