CHURCHES AND FAITH GROUPS ASKED TO PLAN NOW FOR OCTOBER’S NATIONAL ETHICAL INVESTMENT WEEK
Churches and faith groups are being asked to start planning now for this autumn’s National Ethical Investment Week (NEIW). The 2011 NEIW ‘Action Guide for Churches’ is published today to help them to get involved.
It provides practical information to enable congregations to raise awareness of green and ethical investment and other financial products during the fourth annual NEIW, which takes place this year from 16-22 October.
The guide is sponsored by CCLA, the specialist investment manager for charities, churches and local authorities, and produced by UKSIF, the sustainable investment and finance association, in association with the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR).
Helen Wildsmith, Head of Ethical and Responsible Investment at CCLA said:
“There is a natural alignment between the aims of green and ethical investment and Christian values like stewardship. NEIW offers an excellent opportunity for churches and congregations to explore these ideas. CCLA is delighted to once again support the production of the NEIW ‘Action Guide for Churches’.”
Penny Shepherd, UKSIF Chief Executive, said:
“We have released the guide now so that it is available in good time for congregations planning their autumn activities. Churches and faith groups played a key role in raising awareness and demand for Fairtrade products and we hope that the guide will help them to do the same for green and ethical investment and finance.”
Helen Boothroyd, ECCR's Church and Membership Relations Officer, said:
“ECCR hopes that this guide will enable churches across the country to incorporate a focus on ethical investment issues into their services in NEIW and to explore together in more depth the choices they and their members can make about where they invest money and what it is used for.”
The guide outlines some of the ways in which church groups can get involved in NEIW:
- Spread awareness through social media by blogging or tweeting about the Week.
- Add an article on green and ethical investment to the church newsletter and/or website - sample text is included in the guide.
- Download posters and display them in a place of worship or community hall.
- Ask ministers to focus an act of worship and/or sermon around green and ethical investment during the Week.
- Hold a church study group meeting or talk on green and ethical investments. To invite an independent financial adviser (IFA) to speak, try the nearest member of the Ethical Investment Association (www.ethicalinvestment.org.uk), the association for financial advisers advancing green and ethical investment.
Contact
Lisa Wootton, UKSIF
0207 749 9952
Notes to Editors
About National Ethical Investment Week
National Ethical Investment Week (NEIW), the campaign to raise awareness of green and ethical investment options, is coordinated by UKSIF, the sustainable investment and finance association. NEIW 2011 will be held 16-22 October. For more information, visit www.neiw.org.
About UKSIF
UKSIF, the sustainable investment and finance association, promotes responsible investment and other forms of finance that support sustainable economic development, enhance quality of life and safeguard the environment. It also seeks to ensure that individual and institutional investors can reflect their values in their investments. Founded in 1991, it has over 250 members including financial advisers, asset managers, research providers, pension funds, banks and non-governmental organisations. For more information, visit www.uksif.org.
About CCLA Investment Management
CCLA is owned by its church, charity and local authority clients. The Church of England investment funds managed by CCLA support and follow the guidance of the independently-chaired Ethical Investment Advisory Group. Churches from other denominations use CCLA’s charity fund range, which has client driven ethical and responsible investment policies. CCLA provides the secretariat to the ecumenical Church Investors Group. For more information, visit www.ccla.co.uk.
About ECCR
ECCR, The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility, is a church-based investor coalition and membership organisation working for economic justice, human rights and environmental sustainability. ECCR undertakes research, advocacy and dialogue to encourage companies to meet the highest standards of corporate responsibility and transparency, as well as assisting faith communities, their members and other investors in upholding these same high standards through responsible and positive-impact investment. For more information, visit www.eccr.org.uk.
