Dear Roamers,
Apologies for the silence: we’ve been busy! In the past two months we’ve broken two major national stories - first on access islands, and then at Cirencester Park* - and have been using the momentum to further political efforts behind the scenes. The events triggered over fifty stories in the press, a debate in the House of Lords, and landed the campaign in some prime time media slots. Now, as we take a spring breather, we need to put a bit of effort into making sure we can keep going.
(*Note: Links to Mail Online. If not for you, here’s the Guardian’s Editorial instead!)
So this isn't a long newsletter, but it is an important one: we're coming to you to ask for support to help make the campaign possible this year.
Unlike more traditional organisations, Right to Roam is reliant on being people-powered. Many funding bodies prefer to support charities that don’t rock the boat, or upset anyone with too much power. They like offices, formal structures, glossy reports stuffed to the strapline with statistics and metrics of Impacts Achieved (whether any impact has been achieved or not!). Sometimes, those things have their place. But in many cases, they’re an obstacle to getting the real stuff done.
We’re doing our best to avoid playing that game. Our ability to keep going is mostly down to the offerings you all make to the campaign each month, the books we write, and the contributions of a few brave funders who share our belief that staying small, nimble and uncompromised is the best way to change the status quo.
If you’ve subscribed to our mailing list, we’re guessing you believe that too. So if this campaign has found its way into your heart, please consider chucking us the cost of a pint (okay, a London pint) each month to help us keep driving it forward. You can do that here or by using the Donate button at the bottom of the page.
In just a few years we’ve managed to force access rights back onto the agenda. With a few more we believe we can get the job done. We won’t spend the money on offices. We don’t have any fundraisers or overpaid CEOs. Every penny goes towards the core things we need to do to defend the limited rights we have, and to overturn one of the most arcane, unjust systems of land (in)access in the Western world.
We know not everyone has cash to spare, so there are other ways to support too. We’ve got a petition for you to sign and share. A network of local groups to join, found or help prosper. And if you just want to badger your MP, tell your own stories, or explain the issues to your friends: all those things make a difference.
We’ll be in touch soon to tell you about the exciting plans we have following the launch of our new book, Wild Service, the next events we’ve got planned, and with ways you can influence your local parliamentary candidates to take a stance on access reform as the election draws near.
I’ve just looked out of my window and the cowslips are peeping. Spring is truly here.
Blessings to you all and thank you so much for your support.
From Jon, Nadia, and the rest of the Right to Roam team
To follow us on social media:
Twitter: @Right_2Roam
Instagram: right.2roam
Facebook: right2roam
To donate to the campaign:
Click the button below or visit:
righttoroam.org.uk/donate
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