17th February 2017

Leading charities challenge cuts to Legal Aid

by Harry Albright

Three Court of Appeal judges have heard a challenge to the government’s decision to cut legal aid for prisoners, including children. The challenge was brought by the Howard…

17th February 2017

Lobby against nuclear weapons at Westminster

by Harry Albright

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is asking Friends to join a lobby of parliament on 1 March to urge MPs to press the government to play a constructive role at the United…

17th February 2017

Housing plans challenged

by Harry Albright

The campaigning group Friends of the Earth has expressed disappointment with the Housing White Paper that was released last week.

10th February 2017

Meeting for Sufferings: Worship, business and fellowship

by Ian Kirk-Smith

The first Meeting for Sufferings of 2017 was held in the George Fox Room at Friends House in London on Saturday 4 February and proved to be a very successful day of worship,…

10th February 2017

Meeting for Sufferings: Mid-triennium review for Sufferings

by Ian Kirk-Smith

The triennium of the present Meeting for Sufferings runs from Yearly Meeting 2015 to Yearly Meeting 2018. All members of Sufferings, which includes both representatives and…

10th February 2017

Meeting for Sufferings: Creativity in housing solutions

by George Osgerby

‘Five households in Britain become homeless every hour,’ Jenny Brierley, clerk of the Quaker Housing Trust (QHT), told Meeting for Sufferings. Speaking to QHT’s Third…

10th February 2017

Meeting for Sufferings: Fracking concern from Pendle Hill

by George Osgerby

Increasing concern over fracking for shale gas in Britain was the subject of a minute to Meeting for Sufferings from Pendle Hill Area Meeting. Drilling to see if fracking is…

10th February 2017

Meeting for Sufferings: Truth and integrity in public affairs

by Ian Kirk-Smith

Sufferings was asked to reflect on the lack of transparency and integrity in government and prompted to articulate ‘this developing concern’.

10th February 2017

Meeting for Sufferings: Meeting for Sufferings Annual Report

by Ian Kirk-Smith

The draft Annual Report of Meeting for Sufferings for 2016, which had been prepared by the clerk working with the Arrangements Group, was given to Sufferings for approval.

10th February 2017

Meeting for Sufferings: Recent arrests

by Ian Kirk-Smith

Two Friends have been added to the court and prison register. Ian Bray, of Huddersfield Meeting (Brighouse West Yorkshire Area Meeting), was arrested on the 19 November 2016 with…

10th February 2017

Meeting for Sufferings: Yearly Meeting Gathering 2017

by Ian Kirk-Smith

Sufferings heard that the aim of Yearly Meeting Gathering 2017, to be held in Warwick 29 July – 5 August, was to ‘create an inclusive, warm and loving atmosphere’ that would…

10th February 2017

High Court hearing on arms exports

by Harry Albright

This week the High Court in London has been hearing a judicial review into the legality of UK arms exports to Saudi Arabia for use in the ongoing bombing of Yemen.