Latest News
Two-thirds of Friends House staff furloughed
Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) has furloughed two-thirds of its staff in response to the COVID-19 crisis. With Friends House in London and Swathmoor Hall in Cumbria closed under lockdown, BYM said that it is unable to generate any trading income. Eighty per cent of those being furloughed are staff from...
QCEA urges vigilance on civil liberties
Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) has pledged to ‘be actively vigilant’ to see how civil liberties and ‘the most vulnerable’ are affected by COVID-19 restrictions.
Sidcot Friends support Sewell House
Friends from Sidcot Meeting have been supporting elderly residents at Sewell House where both the wardens are self-isolating.
Maundy money for Jordans Quaker
A Friend from Chilterns Area Meeting is one of ninety-four men and ninety-four women who have been awarded Maundy money from the queen in thanks for his Christian service in the community.
QARN urges action on ‘extortionate’ fees
Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network (QARN) has urged Friends to speak out about ‘extortionate’ fee increases for those seeking refuge in the UK. According to QARN, these fees for renewal for Discretionary Leave to Remain – currently at more than £2,000 per person once the immigration health surcharge is added – are ‘hitting...
Friends sign Christian Peace statement
Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW) and the Northern Friends Peace Board (NFPB) have signed a statement put out by the Network of Christian Peace Organisations.
Homeless ‘falling through the net’
Central Bristol Meeting has expressed frustration that its on-site night shelter is currently closed while there are homeless people still on the street. Dean Smart, clerk of Central Bristol Meeting, told the Friend that there are rough sleepers who ‘have fallen through the net’ due to government plans that they...
Quakers on front bench
The new Labour leader Keir Starmer has appointed two members on his front bench team with Quaker credentials. Friend Catherine West, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, was appointed to the shadow foreign affairs team as shadow minister for Europe and the Americas, while Thangam Debonnaire, who has spoken publicly...
DR Congo charity seeks hospitals aid
Quaker Congo Partnership UK has said that is ‘very concerned’ about the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on medical services in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Quaker schools help in coronavirus crisis
Quaker schools have been playing their part in the struggle against the COVID-19 outbreak. Leighton Park School in Reading has led an initiative to create face shields to protect NHS frontline staff, which is now being supported by nine schools in Berkshire. The project, which was launched on 2 April by...