Statement from PaganAid Acting Chair, Debi Gregory

The whole third sector is in crisis. With funding cuts, volunteer shortages and a cost of living crisis combining together to make a situation that is becoming untenable, especially for smaller charities and organisations.

PaganAid has not been immune to this. After robust discussion and conscientious consideration, the PaganAid Board of Trustees have agreed that we cannot sustain our current status without drastic changes.

Therefore, we will be launching two consultations. First, we will be consulting with our members and top contributors in order to consider their input into PaganAid’s future. We will then be launching a public consultation, to allow the Pagan community to have their say in the future of this charity.

Until these consultations are complete, PaganAid will be ceasing new work and projects. Please keep an eye on our social media and website to be kept up to date or to be included in the consultation process.

We thank our members and donors, who have enabled us to contribute to many good causes over the years. From The Canal and Rivers Trust to Bees for Development and from Cool Earth to the Marine Conservation Society, you have supported PaganAid in meeting our objectives of fighting poverty and protecting our Mother Earth.

Let us work together to look to the future of PaganAid, with full consideration of the needs, wants and realities of our community, volunteer power and sustainability of practice.

Warmest Regards and Blessings
Debi Gregory
Acting Chair – PaganAid

Winter fundraising

This winter we will be raising funds to support tribes in the Amazon and the forest itself. The current deforestation level of the Amazon is estimated to be 17 percent, and its tipping point at 20-25 percent. If the tipping point is surpassed, the largest rainforest on Earth could become—at best—a dry grassland.

The Amazon contains the single largest tropical rainforest on the planet. Covering some 40% of the South American continent, it spans more than 1600 million acres across nine countries. Over 400 tribes, each with a distinct culture, language, and territory, continue to live in a largely traditional manner, relying on these forests for their survival. Nearly 100 of these tribes are “uncontacted” or in “voluntary isolation,” and the forest offers their only protection. The Amazon’s role as a climate regulator is critical as the planet gets hotter and drier.

We want to help the Amazon and raise money for one of the charities working there: Amazon Conservation https://www.amazonconservation.org/

We have set up out crowdfunding page at https://www.paganaid.org/donations/amazon-conservation/ If you are able to give a few pounds it will go towards one of the most urgent causes.

2021 Calendar

This Yule we are launching a PaganAid calendar. With twelve stunning photos, this makes a great present for the coming festivities! Just £10 each – (order s now closed)

Other fundraising

We have teamed up with Amazon (the online retainer this time) to get them to donate to us when you shop with them! Please hop on AmazonSmile at https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1158075-0 and Amazon will donate to Paganaid at no cost to you.

Pagan Aid support Gunawirra programmes

Following the appalling fires in Australia at the start of the year, Pagan Aid has made a £500 donation to Gunawirra in support of its Young Aboriginal Mother’s Program and the Journey to Learning for Aboriginal Children.

Gunawirra’s Journey to Learning program aims to provide pre and primary school children and educators a sound knowledge and introduction into Australia’s First Peoples and their ancient culture and its Young Aboriginal Mother’s Program is an early intervention service for Aboriginal women from pregnancy through to their child starting school.

Stuart Jeffery, Chair of Pagan Aid: “We are pleased to have been able to support a charity doing such good work with first nation people, particularly after the devastating fires earlier this year.

“Gunawirra is focussed on improving the lives of Aboriginal people and helping to preserve their heritage, culture and connect to their spiritual core.”

Thank you key workers!

“From all of us at Pagan Aid I wanted to thank the all key workers around the Earth who are keeping us alive during the coronavirus crisis. Those thanks are obviously to those working in health and care but also to the food producers, shop workers, delivery staff, bin men and everyone else who puts their life at risk to keep us all safe. You are all heroes and I am really pleased that society has finally recognised the vital roles you play.” Stuart Jeffery, Chair of Pagan Aid.

Pagan Aid donate £100 to the Transition Town Movement

PaganAid is proud to support “the Transition movement, amplifies stories of community-led change, and nurtures collaborations across difference to challenge us all to reimagine and rebuild our world”.  Transition is a grass roots based movement which aims to help people and the planet through community action. The concept is think global, act local.

£109 donated to Sea AES

Pagan Aid has donated £109 for Sea AES (pronounced Sea Ice). Sea AES are working on a project to protect the environment around the Hudson Bay.

Stuart Jeffery, chair of Pagan Aid: “Sea AES is a Canadian charity working with Inuit and Cree communities to address issues of food security, safety and environmental stewardship for sea ice and marine ecosystems.”

Details of Sea AES are available here

New project: Sea AES

Pagan Aid has just launched its next crowd funding campaign to raise £500 for Sea AES (pronounced Sea Ice). Sea AES are working on a project to protect the environment around the Hudson Bay.

The new crowdfunding campaign is available here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/environmental-stewardship-sea-aes

Stuart Jeffery, chair of Pagan Aid: “Sea AES is a Canadian charity working with Inuit and Cree communities to address issues of food security, safety and environmental stewardship for sea ice and marine ecosystems.

“We will also be raising funds for the Transition Town movement in the UK over the coming months.”

Patrick McCullom appeal raised £500

Our first attempt at crowd funding has successfully raised £500 for the Patrick McCullom Foundation and his work in India.

Patrick has been focusing on bring the wisdom of the elders of indigenous tribes from around the world to India to prevent the rapid environmental destruction that is happening alongside their economic growth.

From his website:

The McCollum Foundation For Peace is pleased to share our newest project toward creating a better world. In February 2019, we will be taking an international group of Indigenous Elders to the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad India, to be seen and heard by over one hundred million attendees. This is part of our long-time commitment to helping raise up the voices of Indigenous Peoples and to empower them to be seen, heard, and appreciated!

The elders will be honored guests at the center of the largest gathering of human beings in all of history, with a projected expectation of as many as 125 million people coming. There will be a sacred Kiva built at the center of the Kumbh Mela to honor the presence of the Elders at the heart of the event, and they will meet world dignitaries, and address huge audiences.