The Brighton Trust has been fighting left wing and unpopular causes since 2016. It’s a small charity that has provided support and grants for many important campaigns, all over the UK (and even abroad), over the last 5yrs.
In Sept 2019, a number of eminent academics from around the country, along with Antony Lerman, the former Director of The Institute for Jewish Policy Research, were hoping to come together to speak at a book launch. The book was ‘Bad News for Labour’ and the location was Waterstones bookshop in North Street, Brighton. Supporters of Israel and the Zionist lobby, including the Sussex Friends of Israel, did not approve and decided to harass Waterstones on Twitter. Waterstones HQ took the decision to cancel the event despite the wish of local staff to go ahead. They later apologised after customers had bombarded them with complaints. The Free Speech Centre at the Rialto in Brighton, which the Brighton Trust was underwriting financially during Labour Party Conference, stepped in and helped to ensure that the launch was able to go ahead and that people’s right to freedom of speech would be protected.
The pro-Israel lobby previously tried to prevent Chris Williamson MP and Jackie Walker from speaking, again, by hounding any venue that was considering hosting them. Again, the ‘Rialto Theatre a Free Speech Centre’ enabled Chris, Jackie and many others to speak and be heard.
The Brighton Trust became a registered charity in August 2016. It was set up by the Brighton Unemployed Workers Centre and its trustees are trade union activists. It’s a small charity that provides support and grants to groups and individuals who are “actively challenging the status quo, racism, discrimination, oppression and exploitation.” Grants normally range from £50 to £250, although they can make multiple donations to a cause, and applying for a grant is easy – you simply send them an email at info@thebrightontrust.org.uk and and tell them how much you need and what it is that you need the money for. Here are just some of the organisations the Brighton Trust has funded over the last 5yrs…
Al Awda Hospital Gaza
Al Tawfawk Childrens Centre, Jenin Refugee Camp
Anti-fascist Prison Support
Balfour Project
Boycott Israel Network
Brighton and Hove Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Brighton Free Speech Centre, The Rialto Theatre, Brighton
Btselem
Calais Refugees
Campaign Against the Arms Trade
Channel Rescue
Chris Williamson Left Legal Fund
Defence Children International – Palestine
Electronic Intifada
Extinction Rebellion
Free Speech on Israel
Freedom from Torture
Friends of Hebron
Grenfell campaign
Grenfell Solidarity Group
Hebron Freedom Fund
Individual Refugees
Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions
Israeli Refuser Solidarity Network
IWGB – Deliveroo Workers
JCB Protesters
Jewish Network for Peace
Jewish Voice for Peace
Julian Assange Campaign
Justice for Labour
Kent Anti-Racist Network
Labour Against the Witchhunt
Legal Action for Women
Lewes Asylum Seeker Support Group
Liverpool Windrush Conference
Marc Wadsworth Legal Fund
Medical Aid for Palestine
Mendip Hunt Sabs
Mike Sivier Libel Appeal
Mondoweiss
Palestine Action
Platform Films
Plymouth Socialist Justice Group
Positive Action in Housing
Refugee Legal Service
Refuser Network Israel
Reprieve
Safe Passage International
South Coast Hunt Sabs Minibus appeal
Support Ozcan Against Deportation
Sussex Kurdish Community
The Lynching – Anti-racist film
Truth About Zane
TUSC legal costs fund
United National Antiwar Committee
War on Want
Weatherspoons Workers Campaign
Windrush Campaign Group
Woodcraft Folk – Palestine Festival
Working 4 Peace & Justice
We, at Spotlight, would like to encourage anyone who shares in the values of The Brighton Trust, whether that’s supporting freedom of speech, fighting racism, discrimination and injustice, supporting pro-Palestinian causes and refugee networks, supporting victims having to go through difficult legal processes, supporting people ignored by the government, fighting against animal cruelty or just trying to challenge the current political status quo in this country, to please consider donating to this charity (account details below). In fact, if you can afford to, why not consider setting up a monthly standing order? After all, the more we can do to help the Brighton Trust, the more the trust can do to support the causes that really matter to us.
Account Name: The Brighton Trust
Account No: 91420311
Sort Code – 09-01-28
Bank: Santander
Ref: Spotlight2021
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