Latest News
Government cuts
The government’s cuts agenda has come under attack from British Quakers, who have formally declared their opposition to the scale of the cuts and their impact on the poorest people in society. Friends have resolved to campaign against changes to disability benefits, to call for a greater contribution from...
Strengthening Area Meetings
The role and ‘right holding’ of Area Meetings has been a concern for some time. The afternoon session of Meeting for Sufferings (MfS), on Saturday 1 October, was devoted to this subject. Paul Parker, recording clerk, opened the session with a short and clear presentation. He reminded Friends of the...
Prison population highest ever
There were 87,120 people in detention on 16 September, of whom 95.1 per cent were male. The number is less than 2,000 places short of the ‘usable operational capacity’ of the prison system. The previous week’s figure had already broken records.
Same-sex civil marriage by 2015
There has been a mixed reaction from equality campaigners. Equalities minister Lynne Featherstone said that a consultation on the subject – delayed from this year – will begin in spring 2012. ‘To deny one group of people the same opportunities available to another is not simply discriminatory, she said, ‘It is simply...
Former Ackworth student arrested
The $2bn alleged banking fraud by a trader at UBS, an investment bank, has exposed ethical failure at both the corporate and the individual level, a member of Quakers and Business has stated.
Quaker presence at party conferences
British Quakers are to have a formal presence at the conferences of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties.
JRF and JRHT announce new chair of trustees
Tony Stoller, editor of The Friends Quarterly, is the new chair of trustees for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) and Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT). A former radio regulator, Tony is taking over the role from Debby Ounsted, who is stepping down after five years in the role. Tony...
Quakers protest at arms fair
Quakers joined in blockades and sit-ins in protest at the London arms fair last week, while many more Friends took part in lawful demonstrations. Friends from Bedfordshire went so far as to hire a coach to travel to London and lobby their MPs. Quaker banners were prominent when around 150...
Religious groups lead the way on ‘green’ challenges
Britain’s Baptists look set to be the first religious group in the UK to use solar-powered electricity at their national headquarters. They have begun to install nearly two hundred solar panels at Baptist House, based in Didcot. The arrival of the panels marks the latest step in an increasing...
Update: The Quaker memorial
The idea of a Quaker memorial within the National Arboretum in Staffordshire is coming closer to reality. The Quaker Service Memorial trustees are looking to extend their number beyond the present four appointed by Staffordshire Area Meeting, at the same time as we build up our fundraising appeal beyond the £22,000...