Making a difference

We are a Quaker trust which seeks to transform the world by supporting people who address the root causes of conflict and injustice.

Joseph Rowntree was always very clear on one thing: for your efforts to have any lasting benefit, you must tackle the roots of a problem. If you only treat the “superficial manifestations” of poverty, or social injustice, or political inequality, then you will ease the symptoms for a time, but make no lasting difference. At JRCT, we want to engage in philanthropy which changes the existing power imbalances in society to effect real change.

We place ourselves deliberately at the cutting edge of difficult and contentious issues. We believe in creating a dialogue across difference and we want to support change towards a better world.

We recognise that change can take many years to achieve. We are willing to take the long view, and to take risks. We try to be flexible enough to respond quickly to the changing needs and demands of our world.

Our interest is in removing problems, not in making them easier to live with. JRCT Trustees are Quakers, and decision-making and practice are based on Quaker values. So Trustees try to discern God’s guidance by keeping open hearts and minds, and by listening. Trust meetings are based on Quaker business method.  Each Trust meeting starts and ends with a period of silent worship.  We don’t vote – we try to listen to each other and to God, so that we are guided to the right decision.