24th August 2024

Dear Friends,

As the summer is coming to an end and we turn our minds to planning for the rest of the year, I thought it would be a good time to write about a few highlights – both coming and going.

First, something about us. Our small team currently consists of just seven members of staff, with the assistance of a few part-time specialists (HR, tech, etc.), engaged on a freelance basis, and the volunteer non-staff members of our Steering Committee.

Each member of the staff team concentrates on a dedicated area of our work, and we all collaborate in keeping the organisational parts of CAAT functioning effectively. There is (always) so much to do, and sometimes it approaches the overwhelming; we have no slack or wriggle room.

I’ve written towards the bottom of this email a bit about our funding, which I think you will find interesting.

2. CAAT Scotland all-day gathering in Glasgow: Saturday, 26th October; all day - SAVE THE DATE

Emma is organising a gathering for CAAT supporters in Glasgow on Saturday, 26th October. This will be a chance to meet members of our team, hear from local supporters and join a series of workshops. A good learning and social opportunity. We’ll send round more information and joining details shortly.

3. CAAT’s local groups

Many of you reading this will be part of one of our local groups, found throughout the UK. Perhaps you got involved in CAAT through one. Or you may be interested in finding one near you.

The recent activities of local groups have been essential in making it clear that local people don’t like armaments manufacturers or arms fairs on their patch. And, if you’ve been following us on social media, you’ll know that some have upped sticks and moved on (perhaps to be greeted by another local group). If you’re interested in finding out more about a group near you, please drop me a line in the first instance and I’ll forward it to the most relevant person. My email address is: [email protected]

4. LSE Library Exhibition: closing on Sunday, 15th September

Following the deposit of the CAAT archives at the LSE Library (they should be fully searchable and accessible later this year), we were invited to take part in the exhibition A Say in the End of the World, curated by PhD student, Gareth Bryant. A selection of our archives is displayed alongside those of CND and – for an interesting comparison – Lady Olga Maitland’s Women and Families for Defence.

The exhibition will close on 15th September, so do go and have a look soon. Follow the LINK to our website to read more about it.

5. CAAT’s 50th Anniversary lecture – recording on YouTube

Sam gave the CAAT 50th Anniversary lecture on Wednesday, 19th June, by invitation of the LSE Library. While his lecture Campaign Against Arms Trade at 50: Adapting resistance to a changing world was recorded, unfortunately the camera was pointed elsewhere. The good news is that it does make very good and informative listening. You can access the recording on YouTube by clicking HERE 

And “in other news”, as they say on the television:

6. Massive Attack – concert in Bristol: Sunday, 25th August

Our friends and supporters Massive Attack are giving their first concert since 2019 in Clifton Downs in Bristol tomorrow. One fascinating thing about this concert is that they have made it as environmentally friendly as possible, the gig is powered solely by batteries and there will be no parking - to encourage the audience to use public transport; electric shuttle buses are also provided. The food will be vegan with all packaging compostable. They have made the national news.

CAAT was invited to have a presence but, owing to last-minute illness, we have had to withdraw. We wish them all the best, and I hope they’ll perform again before too long.

Now that word about…

7. FUNDRAISING

Much of this you may know already, but it’s important to make sure all our supporters are aware of how we are funded to carry out the work we do.

CAAT only exists through receiving grants and individual donations.

Our website says “without our supporters, there would be no CAAT.” This is true.

We receive grants from supportive organisations including The Tolkien Trust and The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust to carry out work, such as education and research, classed as charitable (CAAT isn’t a charity; we are able to receive funds directed through a third-party charity, which holds and releases them to us for our charitable activities).

Individual donations enable us to carry out our core work – campaigning against the arms trade. Without them we couldn’t operate as you would expect us to do. According to the law, this work is not classed as charitable.

Individual donations come in two ways.

First, as spontaneous or one-off donations. These generally come in reaction to CAAT News, a report of an action on social media, or by responding to an email such as this one. I’m glad to see that these have increased in the first half of this year, and we are most grateful.

MAKE A ONE-OFF DONATION

Secondly, and most essential for our operations and longer-term planning, are the regular donations we receive – monthly, quarterly or annually – by Direct Debit.

These are planned payments from our supporters who commit to giving a regular amount they can afford and include in their personal budget.

The amount we receive from this regular giving has fallen over the last couple of years.

I suppose this is no surprise, as the country continues to suffer from the squeeze that is the cost of living crisis. At the moment, this fall is about the same as the increase in one-off donations.

But we are concerned about CAAT's future stability, particularly as we get round to planning and setting our budget for 2025.

We’re asking you – if you don’t already – to think if you could make a monthly Direct Debit to CAAT, if it's something that fits your budget. If you think it is, then please use the button below to complete the form online. You can email me personally if you’d like to discuss this or, indeed, any aspect of giving financially to support CAAT – [email protected]

There are, of course, many ways you can support CAAT that don’t involve money, all of these are essential.

I’ll end with a big thank you to all our supporters, however you choose to continue your support for us. You keep us campaigning.

With all best wishes for a good Bank Holiday weekend,

Charles, and all of the team at CAAT