Charity doesn’t stop at home
Dear Friends,
I recently enrolled as a member of the Mothers’ Union. Yes, you’d be right in noticing that I’m not the sex usually associated with that organisation—and, to be clear, I am not a mother. I first started attending MU meetings as part of my role at St James’s Church, but I’ve been so impressed by what they do and the impact they have that I wanted to commit to them more formally. Thankfully, the MU is inclusive and welcomes everyone as members.
The name “Mothers’ Union” does sound very Victorian, and I’ll admit I initially saw them as a vestige of empire. The name itself remains a marketing challenge for the national organisation, but I quickly realised how wrong my assumptions were about their work. The MU operates in over 80 countries, tackling poverty, violence, and inequality at their roots. Their strength lies in grassroots action, supporting locally led programmes that empower communities to drive their own change. Whether it’s microfinance, vocational training, advocacy for girls’ education, or refugee support, their work is both practical and transformative. Campaigns like the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence further highlight their commitment to raising awareness and fostering real change, always guided by the voices of those they serve.
But, as I often see on social media, “charity begins at home”, usually as an argument against donating to something rather than an argument for it. The MU also works in the UK, and here in Herefordshire they run a Crisis Intervention Fund for those most in need.
This isn’t an advertorial for the Mothers’ Union, but my enrolment coincided with a report from the Charities Aid Foundation showing much lower levels of charitable giving across the UK. The report revealed that just 55% of adults now donate to charity—down from 69% a decade ago - and when people do give, they give less often and in smaller amounts. While some of this decline is attributed to the cost of living, the same drop was seen even among those with high incomes. The report also highlighted an increase in ambivalence or lack of interest in donating to charities.
Over the last decade, there’s been something of a “culture war” against charities, particularly those working in international development or, in the UK, doing things some consider “woke”. “Woke” has become a catch-all term for whatever someone disagrees with. The National Trust is “woke” because it dares to suggest not everything in our history should be celebrated; the RNLI is “woke” because it recognises all lives at risk, not just the ones others like. Then there’s the criticism of “fat cat” salaries in large charities - but I can’t imagine anyone wanting the legal and professional responsibility of managing a global organisation on a low salary. We’re fortunate that all charity information is publicly available for those who genuinely want to know where their donations go. Yes, the sector isn’t scandal-free - no sector is - but a £1.4 billion drop in donations last year will have a real impact on the work charities can do.
It’s not all about money, though. Many people donate in other ways, and the CAF report recognises this. Next month, the Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire will present the King’s Award for Voluntary Service to Colwall Orchard Group - a testament to thousands of hours of volunteering and dedication, not just to the village garden, but to many other green spaces in the area, including our own churchyard and primary school. COG is a wonderful success story, rightly recognised by the King, and an incredible contribution to the life of the village. We are all better off because of the hours of work, vision, and energy COG volunteers put in.
As a charity trustee myself, I’m not despondent. Culture wars come and go, and I have faith in our generosity and willingness to help those in need. As a Christian, helping those in need is central to Jesus’s teaching - something he did wherever he went. For me, the Mothers’ Union puts this Gospel into practice, empowering often the most vulnerable in society and helping people break free from cycles of poverty. For others, there are countless ways of helping - from donating to the food bank, providing ecologically sustainable spaces for us to enjoy, or funding the Youth Project’s ambitions for its new home. Here in Colwall, there are many opportunities to give money, time, or expertise to benefit others.
Andrew
