New fund for young climate activists
'Fi Radford bequeathed a sum of money intended to support young people to develop confidence and creativity in environmental campaigning.'
Quakers have helped set up a new memorial fund to support young climate activists.
The fund draws on the legacy of veteran environmental campaigner Fi Radford, who died in November 2020 with cancer. The founder of Bristol Environmental Activists Together (BEAT), Fi Radford was a familiar face to many in Bristol’s climate and environmental movements.
Quaker Jo Flanagan, one of the trustees of the memorial fund, told the Friend: ‘I worked with Fi on many nonviolent environmental protests both in our home town of Bristol (where she was particularly active in opposing the expansion of Bristol Airport), and across the UK. In 2019 I coordinated a performance action outside the European HQ of BlackRock… Fi was willing to be arrested and spoke eloquently about what went on “behind those shiny doors”.’
Upon her death, Fi Radford bequeathed a sum of money intended to support young people to develop confidence and creativity in environmental campaigning. That money became the basis for the Fi Radford Memorial Trust which now offers grants of up to £250 to people aged between eleven and twenty-four.
Richard Baxter, chair of the trust and fellow campaigner, said: ‘Fi had an eye for what was attention-grabbing, loved engaging people of all ages and did all her activism with style and a disarming smile. She particularly loved it when people of differing ages joined together.’
A TEDx talk by Fi Radford, in which she implores older people to become involved in climate activism and for intergenerational solidarity in campaigning, has been viewed over 10,000 times.
The deadline for applications is 14 November. More information can be found at the trust’s website.
