Events

Vulnerable Workers, Trafficking, Pornography and the Economics of Exploitation: London 2012 and beyond – ECCR Open Debate

November 2011, London

Both the global economic downturn and the pending London Olympic year bring issues around the exploitation of vulnerable workers into sharp focus in the UK. The wide-ranging nature of this exploitation and the opportunities for large companies to do more to prevent it were discussed by five expert speakers in front of an audience of about 130 people at ECCR's open debate 2011 at Friends House. Panellists Dr Stella Creasy MP, Catherine Howarth of FairPensions, D.I. Kevin Hyland of the Metropolitan Police Trafficking and Prostitution Unit, Dr Sasha Rakoff of OBJECT, and Bill Seddon of the Church Investors Group and Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church addressed a wide range of issues affecting vulnerable workers across many of the key Olympic sectors, leading to lively questions and debate from the floor.

Event report (pdf)

News release (pdf)

Event flyer (pdf)

ECCR has collaborated with US partner ICCR on engaging UK based companies, including Sainsbury, on human trafficking with regard to a June 2011 investor statement on human trafficking which ECCR co-signed.

Making our money work for a better world

November 2011, Belfast

This event, supported by ECCR, provided an opportunity for participants to learn how the savings and financial reserves of churches and civil society organisations can make a contribution to financing the transition towards a lower carbon economy, poverty alleviation and socially useful work, and to hear from with some of the financial services providers who address these issues.

Event report (pdf)

Preventing workplace exploitation: lessons from the Gangmasters Licensing Authority

July 2011, London 

Co-organised by Anti-Slavery International, ECCR and the Institute for Human Rights & Business, the meeting shared experience of regulation in different sectors and asked what lessons the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) can offer policymakers. Chair: Rt Rev. Lord Harries; panel speakers: Ian Livsey, GLA; Krisnah Poinasamy, Oxfam UK; Will Stephens, Tesco.

ECCR supports calls for better regulation of worker protection

The Banks and Society: Ireland launch event

June 2011, Dublin 

L&P Financial Trustees hosted a morning conference in conjunction with ECCR, Christian Aid Ireland, EcoQuakers Ireland and Trócaire to launch The Banks and Society: Rebuilding Trust, with discussion of the report’s recommendations for application in an Irish context. Chair: Mary Duffy, L&P; speakers: Donnchadh Brown, L&P; Miles Litvinoff, ECCR; Sr Magdalen Fogarty, Clann Credo; Ian Halstead, L&P. Thursday 2 June, Emmaus Retreat & Conference Centre, Swords, Co. Dublin.

ECCR presentation (pdf)

L&P presentation (pdf)

Behind the Fair Trade Label: Financing a fairer world

March 2011, Newcastle

This event celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight 2011 and explored how investing with organisations such as Shared Interest and Oikocredit can help provide the vital finance that enables ethical business to trade and prosper. Speakers: Andy Redfern, CEO, Ethicalsuperstore.com; Helen Boothroyd, ECCR; Patrick Hynes, Oikocredit; Ruth Taylor, Shared Interest. Chair: Paul Southgate, The Churches Regional Commission in the North East.

Event flyer (pdf)

The Banks and Society: Rebuilding Trust

March 2011, Birmingham

Panel discussion and launch of ECCR’s report on the banking sector. Chair: Rt Revd David Urquhart, Bishop of Birmingham. Panel speakers: Damon Gibbons, Centre for Responsible Credit / Better Banking Campaign; Suzanne Ismail, ECCR; Professor Andy Mullineux, University of Birmingham Business School and Centre on Household Assets & Savings Management.

News release

Event report

Sponsor

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Positive Impact Investment: Too Good to Be True? ECCR open debate 2010

November 2010, London

ECCR's 2010 open debate explored how far a positive impact approach to investing can help us progress towards a fairer and more environmentally sustainable economic system. Chair: Lord Harries of Pentregarth. Speakers: James Bevan, CCLA Investment Management; Ryan Brightwell, Co-operative Financial Services; Clare Brook, WHEB Asset Management; Adam Ognall, UK Sustainable Investment and Finance. Held at Methodist Church House, London.

Debate report (pdf)

News release (pdf)

Presentation by James Bevan (pdf)

Presentation by Ryan Brightwell (pdf)

Presentation by Clare Brook (pdf)

Presentation by Adam Ognall (pdf)

What is Positive Impact Investing?

November 2010, London

This was the second meeting of the ECCR London and South East Group, held in National Ethical Investment Week (7-13 November).

Chair: Stephen Dunham, ECCR member. Speakers: Victoria Woodbridge, Senior Client Relationship Manager at EIRIS and ECCR Board member; Sally Reith, Supporter Relations Officer, Shared Interest. The Group discussed positive impact investing and planned future Group activity.

Event flyer (pdf)

Making our Money Work for a Better World

November 2010, Dublin

Organised by Irish EcoQuakers Committee (Religious Society of Friends in Ireland) and supported by ECCR, this event - for church investors and all those engaged in development, environmental, justice and peace issues - focused on the need for ethically and ecologically sensitive financial services.

Chair: David Kingston, Religious Society of Friends in Ireland. Speakers from ECCR, Ecology Building Society, Triodos Bank and Oikocredit. For further information please email ecoq@gn.apc.org.

Event flyer (pdf)

'Rethinking Ethical Investment in Turbulent Times': ECCR London and South East Group launch meeting

May 2010, London

A new ECCR group for London and the South East was launched at the Mount Street Jesuit Centre, London W1, with a presentation by Dr Robert Howell of the Council for Socially Responsible Investment, New Zealand, on 'Rethinking Ethical Investment in Turbulent Times'. For information about the group please contact Helen Boothroyd (tel. 075 0393 1172).

Banking on Justice: churches investing for a fairer future

March 2010, Edinburgh

Held at St George's West Church, Edinburgh on 18 March 2010 in partnership with ECCR corporate member the Church of Scotland. Chair: Rev. Ian Galloway, Convener, Church and Society Council, Church of Scotland. Speakers: Ryan Brightwell, Co-operative Financial Services; Alex Connor, Triodos Bank; Kathy Galloway, Christian Aid Scotland; Doug Gay, co-author Justice and Markets; Jamie Hartzell, Ethical Property Company; Miles Litvinoff, ECCR; Victoria Woodbridge, EIRIS.

Conference report (pdf)

Conference programme (pdf)

News release (pdf)

The Future of Banking: Ethical & Sustainable? ECCR open debate 2009

November 2009, London

Held at Friends House, London, ECCR's 2009 open debate explored the ethics and sustainability of banks and banking. Chair: Lord Harries of Pentregarth, former Bishop of Oxford. Speakers: Chris Hewett, Green Alliance; Edward Mason, Ethical Investment Advisory Group of the Church of England; Kevin Smith, Platform and BankTrack; James Vaccaro, Triodos Bank.

Debate report (pdf)

Launch of ECCR's report on Vulnerable Migrant Workers

May 2009, London

Rathbone Greenbank Investments hosted the launch of ECCR’s research report, Vulnerable Migrant Workers: The Responsibility of Business - an overview and comparative analysis of food production, manufacture and retail companies, in London. Chaired by Mark Mansley of Rathbone Greenbank, the panel speakers were Antonia Bance of Oxfam GB, Sunniva Taylor of ECCR and Paul Whitehouse of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority. ECCR's report focuses on migrant workers in the domestic economies of Britain and Ireland.

Redeeming the Market?

May 2009, Birmingham

ECCR West Midlands held this public event introduced by Rev. John Johansen-Berg, with Fr Patrick Gerard, author of Performance & Reward, speaking on the bonus culture, its impact on companies, relationship and behaviour, and Prof. Chris Mallin, Director of the Centre for Corporate Governance Research at the University of Birmingham Business School, speaking on ownership, control and the evolving role of shareholders. For information about ECCR West Midlands Group, please contact Barbara Hayes: cigb@birmingham.anglican.org.

Meeting report (pdf)

Companies, Communities and Religious Investors - a conference on socially responsible investment

5 March 2009, Dublin, Ireland

Multinational companies increasingly affect the lives of all of us. How can religious communities and people of faith use their role as investors to promote corporate responsibility and improve companies' impacts on sustainability and justice? ECCR and a coalition of churches and faith groups held a well-attended ecumenical and interfaith one-day conference on 5 March 2009 at All Hallows College, Dublin, Ireland.

Conference report and presentations