Mr Cameron, charities can counter extremism – but we need more money
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Version 0 of 1. The government is investing a reported £5m in charities that promote peace, like the one I run, as part of its new bill to confront extremism. But is it enough and should this be a charity’s job? Governments alone cannot tackle violent extremism; in fact, an approach built only on defence, security and foreign policy can make things worse. So yes, it is down to charities like ours, the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace, to help mobilise and equip society at large with skills to challenge extremism, resolve conflict and build peace. We are independent and able to work with all sides – we can stay clear of politics and faith. But there is one thing we need: targeted, long-term investment. Political institutions and politicians are fickle and in place for the short term. As a charity, we face a long-term societal challenge that transcends borders and electoral periods. But even as one of the leading organisations in our field, prior to Cameron’s announcement on 19 October we knew nothing about the proposed investment – and remain unsure how to access it. It is a relatively modest amount set alongside other security and defence spending, but charities such as ours can add considerable value with carefully targeted and cost-effective projects. The issue for us is that we cannot do this unless funds are sustainable. We need to attract the right staff and build their skills and capabilities to ensure we have the capacity to deliver the services. One-off short-term grants, whatever the amount, are never useful and challenge charity governance and long-term prospects. There are few charities occupying the space of peace building and conflict resolution. It is a difficult “charitable” offer, not one the public feels particularly charitable about, and one that grant founders and government tend to dodge. We have taken up the challenge of working in difficult terrain: that is the prevention, resolution and response to violent conflict, and by that I mean terrorism, political violence and war. Related: Charity Commission and terrorism suspect campaigners Cage in high court The funding must go to organisations that are qualified by experience, work in communities, and have built relationships and are able to work together. We have found that focusing on young people is effective – from offering general leadership development, to working with those who may be vulnerable or at risk of using violence or being influenced by extremism. We also work with women to enhance their conflict resolution skills and recognise their unique influence within families and the community. It is a chilling thought that the entire cost of running our centre for a year is less than the cost of one Brimstone missile – the sort of weaponry now frequently being deployed in Iraq and Syria. We believe prevention is better than cure - and hopefully the government does too – and some of the investment we can access will help us protect and extend our work. For more news, opinions and ideas about the voluntary sector, join our community – it’s free! |