COLUMN: Charities must not lose their self-confidence at this critical time`

CFG recently held its annual fundraising dinner, which is a time for us to shine a spotlight on the fantastic work of our dedicated finance professionals but also to raise money for CFG. I’m always surprised by how quickly this evening comes round and usually I take the time to say a few kind (and occasionally amusing) remarks about the year that has passed and to thank our members and our corporate supporters for all their efforts.

But 2016 has been a very unusual year, so I decided to change approach and made a more serious speech about the state of the sector, our country, and the world at large.

I don’t think I have lived through a more troubling year than 2016 - and I don’t just mean the death of musical legends such as David Bowie or Leonard Cohen.

There is a growing sense of disquiet and unease. It has been thrown into sharp relief by events at home and overseas – most recently by the election of a man with no political experience who is seen by his supporters as a refreshing break from the establishment elite; someone to say it like it is but who is seen by many as a racist, misogynistic, bigot.

I have been alarmed by the ease with which fear and hardship has been capitalised upon and exploited to supposedly give a voice to the voiceless, the forgotten and the disenfranchised.

How many of us involved in politics or social change who are driven by values of tolerance and compassion, suddenly feel silenced and disempowered in the face of sneering bullies telling us that we are disconnected from the ‘ordinary’ people? We are now facing constant hectoring that we are ‘the liberal elite’ which has fuelled the intolerance and hate.

We mustn’t get depressed or despondent. We must revolt against the accusation that we are disconnected or seated in an ivory tower. Charities acutely understand the plight of real people and are not ‘self-serving’ or in denial because they are not willing to accept what appears to have been sold to the ‘masses’.

The people who voted Brexit and for Trump do not have a monopoly on wanting change; just as those who voted against do not have a monopoly on compassion. I share the fears and concerns, particularly the awareness of inequality, I just don’t share their view on the causes or what the right solution is. So I made three requests to those that attended our dinner, and I make them to readers also:

1. Do not give way to hate, intolerance and blame and dress it up as pragmatism.

2. Call people out for their extreme views and never allow discrimination and prejudice to be permitted because those who perpetrate it hold greater power.

3. Deploy all your skills in persuading people that there are other solutions.

2016 has reminded me that charities share a common purpose – making the world a better, more equitable and just place.

Our sector is needed now more than ever. People are crying out for change and we must step forward to offer them a solution that is rooted in compassion and humanity not in blame, separation, intolerance and hate.

We must not lose our self-confidence or begin to doubt whether we are fit to carry out our mission. We must fight to preserve our right to speak and act in the interests of those we serve.

As chief executive of a charity membership body, I know people that work in our sector have chosen to use their skills and talents to serve and improve the lives of others. They are passionate about the causes they serve, and want to do the best that they can.

Unfortunately, political rhetoric is increasingly negative. Fear is in danger of extinguishing generosity. Darkness threatens to overwhelm all of us. But you cannot fight darkness with darkness: only with light.

Recent events have exposed cracks in our communities, but as Leonard Cohen once wrote “There is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in”.

So let’s ensure we see those cracks as an opportunity to do our best work ever and to shine a light into the darkest places.

Caron Bradshaw is chief executive of the Charity Finance Group

This column originally appeared in the December/January issue of Charity Times.

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