Thanks for the thoughtful comment about the campaign.

I think you’re right that people expect Oxfam to speak on issues of international development primarily – but our overall aim is the end of poverty and suffering, throughout the world. We work in more than 30 countries, including the UK.

Oxfam’s worked in the UK for 13 years now, so this isn’t a new thing for us. We have a distinct section for the UK – the UK poverty programme – just as we have a distinct section for every country we work in, and it is perfectly possible to donate separately for UK work – just say that the money is for domestic poverty when you give it. But you can also see evidence of us in wider communications by Oxfam – buy something for £3.99 (possibly £2.99, may have misremembered) in an Oxfam shop, and on the back of the price label will be information about our work with exploited women doing piece work at home in the UK.

And, just like every other country we work in, here in the UK, we undertook an analysis of how poverty might be ended in our context. We suggest that in this established democracy, with a strong and effective state, poverty can best be ended by government action to guarantee a minimum income and decent wages – and Oxfam’s efforts are best spent calling for that, and strengthening others in the anti-poverty sector to call for it too.

I agree with you that we have the resources to fight poverty in the UK; but I disagree with you that there is the will. Perhaps, inconsistently, it is there; it is certainly not there consistently, in a well-informed evidenced-enough way. Too often, people who make policy that impacts on people on low incomes don’t know or understand the reality of life below the poverty line or the consequences of their decisions. And often they are swayed by ill-formed untrue stereotypes and prejudices about poverty.

Far from criticising the rest of the anti-poverty sector, we work alongside them, funding grassroots groups and supporting others to influence policy as well as doing it ourselves. Yes, we think there is a gap for a generic anti-poverty agency, not specialising in children or older people or homeless people or migrants, to speak out in defence of those living on a low income in the UK, and call for change – which is why we did that yesterday.

best wishes, Antonia, Oxfam GB

I hope it will also cover support in lobbying Local Government.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7989656.stm

Most people understand Oxfam’s core proposition to be poverty and famine relief in developing countries and give on that basis. Where a state is not strong enough or sufficiently enlightened to properly attempt to fight the causes of poverty- such as gender inequality- then possibly the majority of donors would understand why Oxfam puts resources into that area.

Whatever anyone says, in the UK we do have the will and resources to fight poverty. The last 12 years have seen some fine attempts, although admittedly many have been far from effective. Reading Oxfam’s campaign, you’d think the government were not doing anything. And I’m afraid that digging deeper, they are vastly understating the complexity of some of the problems- such as long term benefits.

Then there are the implications of starting an online campaign in the year 2009. Say I want to write to them to argue the details? It’s fair enough to expect an online conversation- are they really going to be able to resource an open debate? I doubt it but if so, then this will lead to further expenditure on resources.

So, I think you are right Tom- this campaign might not be understood by people who give to Oxfam and it might prove to be a test case.

Apart from the fact that most people do not give their money for domestic campaigning, there’s an implication that they are somehow filling a gap – that somehow they think domestic charities aren’t doing enough.

If the (excellent) management team at Oxfam really do feel this, then should start a domestic branch and enable separate donations.

On the issue of charities and political campaigning, there’s a good piece here by BBC’s Mark Eaton: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markeaston/2009/04/charities_and_politics.html

He refers to the Cabinet Office’s Capacity Builders Programme which sounds good- I hope it will go to small charities and enterprises.

We have a vibrant, growing sector of social entrepreneurs in the UK, many working in the area of activism and campaigning.

For us, it’s an added disappointment that comparative giants like Oxfam are investing far more money than any start up could dream of in online campaigns. Hope that the 750k will go to small charities and social enterprises!