Meeting for Sufferings: QCEA report
Josh Habgood-Coote reported to Meeting for Sufferings about QCEA's triennial report
Josh Habgood-Coote, one of two Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) representatives to the Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) General Assembly, presented the organisation’s triennial report to MfS.
Referring to the UK’s departure from the European Union the previous day, Josh said: ‘It’s a weird day to be giving this report. I won’t try to reflect the depth of diversity of opinion within the room and Quakers in Britain but I just want to note from my point of view that the need for peace in Europe did not lessen at 11 o’clock last night, nor did the need to work for peace in Europe.’
He said that QCEA represents European Yearly Meetings not just at the EU but also at the Council of Europe, NATO and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The UK remains a member of the three latter organisations.
QCEA operates from Quaker House Brussels, which is owned by BYM. There are now two key areas of work: the peace programme and the human rights programme. In common with other Quaker organisations, QCEA employs a distinctive methodology, including quiet diplomacy, producing resources in various languages, and advocacy.
Josh noted that QCEA is operating at a deficit and under its optimum staffing levels, which makes the current level of work unsustainable in the short to medium term without extra funding.
A former QCEA representative asked if there have been any discussions about the effect of Brexit on the organisation and how to increase the level of support from British Friends, ‘trying to make sure that Brexit doesn’t actually mean a decline in support’. She added that although BYM gives great support through the ownership of the house and a subsidised rent, she wondered whether the BYM grant could be increased. ‘How can we better support this very worthy organisation which is doing absolutely splendid work?’
Josh replied that there is no ‘sense that the work needs to change in response to Britain leaving the EU. The work is across Europe’. But, he added, QCEA is aware of difficulties coming down the road in a number of its areas of work.
A former representative to the General Assembly asked about interns and work placements for young people. Josh said there is one programme assistant currently working at QCEA, financed by general funds.
Another Friend asked if it is possible for individual Friends and Local Meetings to contribute to QCEA and how that might be done. ‘To allow the work to reduce is reducing our influence and effect across Europe.’ Josh replied that QCEA welcomes donations from individuals and Meetings.
One Friend mentioned #ChooseRespect, a project that engages with people making anti-migrant posts on social media, and asked about the interest shown by major internet companies. Josh said it had been a pilot project to try to change attitudes, ‘exploding some of the myths around migrants’ and meetings with social media companies about supporting this work are ongoing.
Caroline Nursey, clerk of BYM trustees, said the grant this year is just over £25,000, which has gone up by inflation. However, Finance and Property Committee ‘is open to a conversation with QCEA about future years’. She added that there is an additional grant of £30,000 over two years from legacy funds specifically for peace education. ‘It’s really helpful for trustees to hear what a priority this work is.’In response to another Friend, Caroline said that having the property in Brussels and renting it at a low rent is another form of support. Josh added that QCEA pays €6,800 in rent and location costs. However another Friend noted that the exchange rate ‘is appalling. £25,000 is now worth twenty per cent less’. She asked whether BYM could make grants in euros as the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust does.
A Friend commented that she found the report ‘upbeat, informative, useful and easy to share more widely, which may result in more money coming in from British Friends’.
Another Friend mentioned the joint peace education work done by BYM and QCEA and asked if this work will continue. Oliver Robertson, BYM’s head of witness and worship, said not only will the work continue but the hope is to build on it across Europe.
MfS minuted that: ‘Friends were impressed by the report and were interested to hear about QCEA’s financial situation. We affirmed the need for Friends in Britain to continue (and ideally to increase) support for the work of QCEA, both materially and spiritually. The need for peace and work towards it has not lessened overnight as we have left the EU.’
In a separate minute, MfS also welcomed the joint statement on Brexit issued by the Ireland and Britain Yearly Meeting clerks.
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