UKELA funding

How does UKELA get its funding?

Most of the funding for UKELA, which is a charity, comes from membership subscriptions and events income. UKELA is also fortunate to have corporate sponsorship, mainly for its annual conference, and to have many facilities donated free of charge for events. It also has a huge band of committed volunteers, without whom UKELA would not be able to function.

What do you spend the money on?

As a charity UKELA has to provide a public benefit from the money it receives. One of our main aims is to make the law work for a better environment. We do this by influencing the law as it's formulated and by pointing out where the system isn't working. We have paid people to support our working parties in doing this.

UKELA has also set up and looks after the public information website, Law and Your Environment. This aims to give people information on their environmental rights and responsibilities. This is part of our work on raising awareness and knowledge of environmental law, which includes work on this website.

How can I support UKELA's work?

UKELA has a target to raise £285,000 to create an endowment fund to pay for the development and upkeep of ‘The Law and Your Environment’. The endowment, called The Lord Nathan Memorial Fund for the Environment should yield £10,000 annually and will help generations to protect their environments better. Lord Nathan who died in 2007 was a past President of the charity and the fund is named after him to recognise the dedication and commitment that he gave to environmental causes and for which he campaigned all his life. Around 10% has already been raised by UKELA from its membership and reserves, but the charity still has over £250,000 left to raise.

If you would like to make a donation, we would be very grateful. ‘The Law and Your Environment’ is a vital plain english resource which enhances access to environmental justice and understanding of people’s rights and responsibilities. It will help people to help themselves to a better environment.

• You or your company or organisation can give any amount, but for those seeking specific guidelines, here is a schedule of suggested levels of gift:
• Individuals are asked to consider giving monthly through a standing order. A donation of £10 – 25 per month for 36 months will make a real difference to this appeal;
• Individuals are asked to consider one off gifts via Gift Aid in the region of £100-£2000. For example, if a higher rate taxpayer makes a donation of £780 to the appeal, UKELA will receive £1000. The donor will get further tax relief of 18% on the £1000 gift, i.e. £180, so the net cost to the donor is £600.
• Chambers and large legal firms are asked to consider donations in the region of £5,000 to £30,000;
• Trust donations of any size are sought from firms who are linked with or have their own company charitable trust;
• Small to medium sized legal firms are asked to consider donations in the region of £2,000 to £3,000.

If you wish to make a donation via Gift Aid, you must pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April on year to 5 April the next) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that UKELA will reclaim on your gifts for that tax year.

Why give to UKELA?

Detrimental environmental impact is felt by a wide range of people across the UK, but it is felt first and hardest by poor people. They are significantly more likely to live in or near polluted areas and their health is much more likely to be compromised as a result. What is even worse is that, according to a report commissioned by DEFRA, many residents of socially or economically deprived areas have come to accept that they will have to live in polluted areas because they feel unable to do anything to stop the harmful developments around them.

The people who will use ‘The Law and Your Environment’ will come from a broad spectrum of society, but they will all be experiencing and having to cope with potentially damaging environmental developments happening near their homes and in their neighbourhoods.

How can I make a donation?

Please send donations to Alison Boyd at P O Box 487, Dorking, RH4 9BH. Cheques are payable to the ‘UK Environmental Law Association’.

Or make a BACS payment to the appeal by transferring funds from your online account to UKELA’s bank: Royal Bank of Scotland: account number 22573376, sort code: 15-10-00 marking the payee reference ‘ Endowment’.

Set up a standing order to the appeal by emailing alisonboyd.ukela@ntlbusiness.com or ringing 01306 500090.

Or you can click on the donate now link on this page.

Who has made a donation?

The Lord Nathan Memorial Fund for the Environment was set up officially in June 2009. It has already received generous donations from members of UKELA's Council, its Patrons and some members. We are grateful to the Clifford Chance Foundation for its donation and to those wishing to remain anonymous. UKELA's Council has also set up a restricted fund to support the upkeep of Law and Your Environment. Funds that go into this are the surplus left over from other UKELA activities.

Are you looking for corporate sponsorship?

UKELA welcomes expressions of interest in sponsorship from commercial enterprises. There is a package of sponsorship opportunities for the Exeter 2010 conference - contact the vice-chair Mark Brumwell (see the Council page).

If you want to advertise in e-law or put an event or job on the website please contact Vicki Elcoate (see the staff page). Our rates are very reasonable and the income supports our charitable activities. We have 1200 members so you reach a wide audience.

Sponsorship is welcome for other events - this usually takes the form of offering a venue and refreshments for our delegates. This gives you a high profile in front of the key environmental law audience in the UK. If you have a suggestion or offer please contact Vicki Elcoate.

We are considering sponsored links on Law and Your Environment. If this is of interest please also contact Vicki Elcoate.

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