Charity must not become a casualty of the recession

In the grip of the downturn, we need to move from donor and receiver to true partnerships, writes Richard Branson.

Not a day goes by without heavy falls on the financial markets, mind-boggling profit collapses from our high-street banks and sweeping job losses. The global recession is unprecedented in our lifetimes, bringing a sudden halt to more than a decade of uninterrupted wealth creation.

It is hardly surprising that commentators are worried that the charities, foundations and good causes that have flourished in recent years will suffer a sudden drought of donations and be forgotten by those benefactors of recent good times.

Charities will indeed struggle as the downturn hits corporate and individual donors, but I do not believe this will sound the death knell for philanthropy.

On the contrary, the crisis presents an opportunity for leaders and businesses to develop new partnerships, smarter giving techniques and a more effective use of resources.

The consequences of the recession are changing the face of capitalism and challenging the old orthodoxy of self-interest. Business has a new sense of purpose: to prove that capitalism on its own is not enough; to turn a profit while making the world a better place.

This has already manifested itself in many ways, from the creation of large foundations to distribute wealth, to the positioning of social responsibility and good business practices.

In many cases we have seen the demise of the "golden charity cheque" – a company's payment to assuage corporate guilt and allow it to focus purely on pursuing profit. You can no longer be a responsible company if you say you support Aids orphans in Africa, but discriminate against HIV-positive people in the workplace.

Even when amazing amounts of money are involved, there has been a marked change in donors' attitudes. Bill and Melinda Gates established the Gates Foundation to address the world's health and educational problems in a coordinated and consistent way, rather than throwing money at the problems.

Bill Gates, who is donating more than usual to the fund this year, wrote in an open letter: "The wealthy have a responsibility to invest in addressing inequity. This is especially true when the constraints on others are so great. Otherwise, we will come out of the economic downturn in a world that is even more unequal, with greater inequities in health and education, and fewer opportunities for people to improve their lives."

This attitude is as valuable to the philanthropic cause as the large amounts of money. In the grip of the downturn, we need to revolutionise the way businesses and the social sector work together – moving from donor and receiver to true partnerships. If we all come to this with the right spirit of collaboration, we can work towards a more equitable and healthier world for a far lower price tag.

Note: This article by Richard Branson appeared in the Daily Telegraph on the 29 Jan 2009.

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Nurse suspended for prayer offer

A Christian nurse from Weston-super-Mare has been suspended for offering to pray for a patient's recovery.

Community nurse Caroline Petrie, 45, says she asked an elderly woman patient during a home visit if she wanted her to say a prayer for her.

The patient complained to the health trust about Mrs Petrie who follows the Baptist faith.

She was suspended, without pay, on 17 December and will find out the outcome of her disciplinary meeting next week.

Power of prayer

Mrs Petrie, who carries out home visits in North Somerset, said she had asked the patient if she would like a prayer said for her after she had put dressings on the woman's legs.

The patient, believed to be in her 70s, refused and Mrs Petrie insists that she left the matter alone.

The sick woman contacted the trust about the incident and Mrs Petrie was challenged by her superiors.

Mrs Petrie said: "The woman mentioned it to the sister who did her dressing the following day. She said that she wasn't offended but was concerned that someone else might be.

"I was spoken to by my manager. She said 'I've got a letter in one hand and an incident form in the other. You won't be able to work until we've investigated this incident'."

Mrs Petrie, who qualified as a nurse in 1985, said she became a Christian following the death of her mother.

"My faith got stronger and I realised God was doing amazing things in my life.

"I saw my patients suffering and as I believe in the power of prayer, I began asking them if they wanted me to pray for them. They are absolutely delighted."

A spokesman for North Somerset Primary Care Trust said: "Caroline Petrie has been suspended pending an investigation into the matter.

"She is a bank nurse and has been told we will not be using her in this capacity until the outcome of our investigation is known.

"We always take any concerns raised by our patients most seriously and conscientiously investigate any matter of this nature brought to our attention.

"We are always keen to be respectful of our patients' views and sensitivity as well as those of our staff."

Mrs Petrie says that she has taken advice from the Christian Legal Centre, which aims to protect the religious freedom of people who follow the Christian faith.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/7863699.stm