New mag looks at the UK budget, Palestinian solidarity, community ownership and much, much more
Welcome to TFN magazine’s November edition – which you can read in full here.
Things never get any easier for the voluntary sector, do they? Certainly the heady days of the summer seem like eons ago – those hopeful days when even the most cynical might have though there could be some light round the corner following the UK’s general election.
Here we are in the mist, rain and chill of November and things look… pretty much as they were. The budget has been sore – its new austerity measures were well trailed and the sector was bracing for them. But it’s not clear how many saw the employer NI hike – and the lack of exemption for charities – coming.
We’ve got a big fight on our hands about this – prime yourself for it by reading TFN’s in-depth budget coverage.
While this is all very gloomy, it is put into perspective by the terrible and on-going events in Palestine. Inside we look at what Palestinian solidarity looks like for civil society.
On a related note, the carnage in the Middle East has brought to the fore the age-old problem charities have with how they intersect with parts of big business – those companies whose existence is essentially predicated on the continuance of human suffering.
TFN’s Niall Christie has taken a deep dive into Stonewall’s relationship with the arms trade, and the results are sobering, and raise many pertinent and difficult questions.
Read it inside or online here.
On a more positive note, we look at an exciting new funding stream opening up for the sector and the difference community ownership can make.
And as it’s nearly that time of the year, don’t forget to peruse TFN’s annual festive gifts guide. With the state of the world as it is, we have to try to make a positive difference in any way we can, even when if comes to Christmas pressies.
You will find all of that in this month as well as TFN's usual line up of excellent columnists and features.
And don’t forget - if you work for a member or supporter organisation, why not set up an account so you can access members only content such as the full archive, TFN app and exclusive content.
