Is it time for a Countryside Fund ?

[kes]

I know there are many problems with establishing such a fund, not least of which is what do you spend the money on and how funds would be authorised - opinions will vary.
However, one thing I am clear about is that a fund for legal defence is required to both appoint and pay for JR's (firearms legislation) and legal actions where possible against individuals who lie to support their environmental cause, supporting other countryside pursuits in legal actions would also perhaps be appropriate.
I could see Lord Botham e.g. as the president of such a fund set up as a charity and managed by key people (voted for) from all Countryside Organisations. This model could be subscription based and allow for donations via wills or simply call for funding for specific events. The latter would not be 'nimble' to respond to urgencies but what do people think generally ?
Worth a bit of a chat anyway.

 

[jimmy milnes]

I know there are many problems with establishing such a fund, not least of which is what do you spend the money on and how funds would be authorised - opinions will vary.
However, one thing I am clear about is that a fund for legal defence is required to both appoint and pay for JR's (firearms legislation) and legal actions where possible against individuals who lie to support their environmental cause, supporting other countryside pursuits in legal actions would also perhaps be appropriate.
I could see Lord Botham e.g. as the president of such a fund set up as a charity and managed by key people (voted for) from all Countryside Organisations. This model could be subscription based and allow for donations via wills or simply call for funding for specific events. The latter would not be 'nimble' to respond to urgencies but what do people think generally ?
Worth a bit of a chat anyway.

Fantastic idea.. Where do I sign up?

 

[Tugmanade]

Sounds great, if every shooter, stalker, clay shooter, rough shooter, angler, ferreter, target shooter etc etc put in a pound or two a week that would be a good amount to start with I’m sure.

Ade

 

[Grannysmith]

Sign me up!

 

[Brighty3006]

I'm in

 

[kes]

Ok the principle sounds reasonable - how would The fund collect, ensure safekeeping of funds and what would be the means to bring a request for funding ? I too would be very happy to make a monthly donation, not that I dislike Donkeys in the middle east, or anyone else calling for money these days. Some form of constitution would be required which broadly set out the uses for the funds. It might buy land e.g. in specific cases and set up a management plan to protect species but ensure sustainable shooting - much like big game in Africa one could envisage a waterfowl reserve. In cases where a general assault on firearm ownership was concerned the fund would automatically, upon considering legal advice, commit to 'retain existing freedoms' and 'oppose unjustified restrictions to ownership' .
What might others consider worthy of support, since I would not envisage a problem with funds - e.g. RSPB - get it right and money would not be a problem.

 

[starr shot]

Count me in.To many people and groups out there trying to stop things in the countryside.

 

[zambezi]

The tagline for the new entity could be the "voice of shooting".

Certainly that mantle is not yet being carried in the spirit you have defined: commit to 'retain existing freedoms' and 'oppose unjustified restrictions to ownership' .

Surely Charlie's team over at Fieldsports Britain are the natural rally point? They already have a voice in the media, a wide supporter base, and actually speak for us.

If that team could set up an arm that managed a separate pot ring-fenced for litigation, I think their membership would triple overnight.

And competitively priced Range Rovers would flood onto the market in the Marford Hill area.

 

[jimmy milnes]

The tagline for the new entity could be the "voice of shooting".

Certainly that mantle is not yet being carried in the spirit you have defined: commit to 'retain existing freedoms' and 'oppose unjustified restrictions to ownership' .

Surely Charlie's team over at Fieldsports Britain are the natural rally point? They already have a voice in the media, a wide supporter base, and actually speak for us.

If that team could set up an arm that managed a separate pot ring-fenced for litigation, I think their membership would triple overnight.

And competitively priced Range Rovers would flood onto the market in the Marford Hill area.

Isn't Charlie on here if I remember correctly?

 

[CarlW]

Outstanding idea, @kes.

It might be worth doing some digging on WJ's legal and constitutional arrangements to see what one can learn from them.

How the trust is structured and conditioned will be key. My biggest concern (resolvable) is that the trustees and/or administrators are prevented in perpetuity from 'doing a BASC' and converting a good cause first into a business, and subsequently into a racket.

 

[Jelen]

Countryside Alliance is a politically non-aligned campaigning and membership organisation which already includes Shooting, Fishing and Hunting. They are a charity.
Instead of starting another organisation/layer of buerocracy from scratch, why not join the CA and swell their numbers and fighting fund?

 

[ian67]

Great idea.

 

[zambezi]

why not join the CA and swell their numbers and fighting fund?

I was with BASC for a couple of decades before realising that they did not deserve my financial support since whatever good they ever did was far and away negated by the harm they did: co-spawning the medical fiasco a case in point.

I then joined the CA for two years.

In that time I had occasion to request that their shooting liaison [Adrian Blackmore at the time] ask my county's Firearms Department why they were seeking to apply inexplicable restrictions to one of my firearms which strictures flew in the face of HOG10.47.

Mr Blackmore's reply to me was that the CA will not argue individual cases... [and yet the principle was of universal importance: arbitrary declining of aolq on one caliber. Who next? For what reason? Where does that stop?]

A dedicated, focussed, and committed team like Charlie's would definitely give us a voice.

It would not take many test cases for Chiefs of Police to weedle out those who bring their force into disrepute by ill-judged or self-agrandising actions.

 

[DamDama]

Countryside Alliance is a politically non-aligned campaigning and membership organisation which already includes Shooting, Fishing and Hunting. They are a charity.
Instead of starting another organisation/layer of buerocracy from scratch, why not join the CA and swell their numbers and fighting fund?

I don’t think the CA are a charity. They applied for charitable status but got kicked back by the Charity Commission. I am not a member so could be wrong.

 

[DamDama]

Ok the principle sounds reasonable - how would The fund collect, ensure safekeeping of funds and what would be the means to bring a request for funding ? I too would be very happy to make a monthly donation, not that I dislike Donkeys in the middle east, or anyone else calling for money these days. Some form of constitution would be required which broadly set out the uses for the funds. It might buy land e.g. in specific cases and set up a management plan to protect species but ensure sustainable shooting - much like big game in Africa one could envisage a waterfowl reserve. In cases where a general assault on firearm ownership was concerned the fund would automatically, upon considering legal advice, commit to 'retain existing freedoms' and 'oppose unjustified restrictions to ownership' .
What might others consider worthy of support, since I would not envisage a problem with funds - e.g. RSPB - get it right and money would not be a problem.

Kes
One way would be to set it up as a Community Interest Company (CIC).
This doesn’t involve the Charity Commission. CIC’s have been set up to manage all manner of activities.
DD

 

[kes]

Countryside Alliance is a politically non-aligned campaigning and membership organisation which already includes Shooting, Fishing and Hunting. They are a charity.
Instead of starting another organisation/layer of buerocracy from scratch, why not join the CA and swell their numbers and fighting fund?

I think for me the point is a fund which GUARANTEES certain things for the Countryside - CA guarantees nothing as is focused on too may other things - however, if ou read my other post they would get a seat on the 'board' at the highest level. This would mean their profile would be hightened IF the proposed fund was correctly 'positioned. I like the idea of involving the media savvy of Fieldsports TV but their name will not do - I suggest something more akin to conservation and wildlife management for the Countryside or CWC for short. I will look at WJ's constitution and report back.

 

[kes]

Countryside Alliance is a politically non-aligned campaigning and membership organisation which already includes Shooting, Fishing and Hunting. They are a charity.
Instead of starting another organisation/layer of buerocracy from scratch, why not join the CA and swell their numbers and fighting fund?

They also did nothing over medicals -challenging this would be expected of such a fund in my view.

 

[kes]

The RSPB is a charity with more than one million members. Young and old, urban and rural, from every corner of the UK, RSPB members volunteer thousands of hours working directly for birds and wildlife, and are the charity's biggest source of income.
The Countryside alliance had to set up a Foundation which achieved charitable status but which does not fit the suggested purpose of the Fund.

 

[Jelen]

I don’t think the CA are a charity. They applied for charitable status but got kicked back by the Charity Commission. I am not a member so could be wrong.

According to their website today, they are a charity.

 

[kes]

8 Steps to Form a Nonprofit Organization:

1. Choose a business name.
2. Incorporate online or by phone with incorporate.com.
3. Apply for your IRS tax exemption.
4. Apply for a state tax exemption.
5. Draft bylaws.
6. Appoint directors.
7. Hold a meeting of the board.
8. Obtain any necessary licenses and permits.

Charities are supposedly for the public good, not a select group but this looks OK. CA is NOT a charity but has a CAFoundation which is.
Most political parties are nonprofit organisation.
WJ is a limited liability company see here WILD JUSTICE - Overview (free company information from Companies House) and must therefore be listed at Companies House but can avoid detailed accounts. Assests currently 90K although you can knock a bit off that after the failure recently.

A further step would be an incorporated nonprofit organisation.