Securing our foundation
…and looking ahead
A special note from our Board of Trustees
Autumn 2023
“We are longing to secure the future of Empathy Action. We are at a critical point and to secure the future of Empathy Action, we need to secure the immediate future of our Director and Co-Founder, Ben Solanky and his family now…”
By way of background
We began Empathy Action in 2015 - with a vision but with little in the way of resources. We chose to be a voluntary organisation. This has been a particular strength. It has allowed us to demonstrate something deep about who we are and what can be achieved with a small group of passionate, committed and talented people - fuelled by belief, prayer and unwavering commitment.
We knew this would evolve. Indeed, it would need to. We knew back then that we would want to expand the core team at some point; bringing in people that would help expand our culture of empathy and compassion, whilst keeping our passion and heart. Things were looking really promising in 2019.
However, as well as the Covid pandemic impacting on what we were able to do, our core team, the original backbone of Empathy Action, has taken a massive hit over the past three years. Whilst Ben is supported by a number of committed, part-time, volunteers, he is now the sole, full-time, unpaid volunteer. He is only able to do this through the generous support of a number of friends and family.
We are indebted to Ben for his energy and passion and his (and our) strongly held belief that he is meant to be serving in this way. Ben does this in response to his deep calling to encourage us - encourage everyone - to take action to support those in need. If Ben were to leave, we believe the work of Empathy Action would very likely cease. This is the biggest risk to our mission.
Ben and his family have had incredible support over the years from friends and family. This includes a lovely home in the heart of Tunbridge Wells provided at ‘mates rates’, regular financial support and occasionally, holidays being generously provided. He and his family have lived month by month for nearly 20 years with this belief and we are so thankful that he is still serving in this way. He and Angie sense that this is exactly where he is meant to be serving.
However this year his situation has changed substantially, as is outlined in the “What’s changed” section below.
We have a plan to grow the work of Empathy Action and increase our resilience and Ben is critical for this work to continue and for these changes to be put in place.
The Trustees have therefore decided to launch this appeal to broaden the support for Ben and secure the foundation for Empathy Action. The need is urgent and we would like to have the opportunity to discuss this with you face-to-face.
I ask - would you be willing to have such a conversation please?
Paul Williams, Chair of Trustees
What’s changed?
A number of things have changed over the last three years.
The loss of Director and Co-Founder Matt Gurney in 2020 meant Ben now carries greater responsibility.
In addition, a number of key volunteers had to step back from volunteering with us.
The pandemic and subsequent cost of living crisis have also had a major impact on Ben, Angie and the boys' circumstances.
This year their home for the past nine years needs to be returned to their friends and generous landlords. However, in quite a miraculous way, a local Trust has stepped in to buy a house for Ben and Angie to rent. This offer will entail a new housing arrangement for them, most likely in a nearby town outside of Tunbridge Wells.
However, despite a generous, subsidised rent, the Solanky’s living costs will increase significantly.
At present, Ben also has very little to expect by way of income in retirement and so steps are being taken to ensure that he can qualify for a full state pension. This will involve additional costs and will see the loss of a number of benefits, which have been a key source of income.
We and they appreciate that working as a full-time, unpaid, volunteer comes at a cost in terms of financial security and this is something that together, we are looking to address.
We estimate that Ben and Angie need an additional £1,500 per month. Whilst we appreciate that this is a significant amount, at a time when many are also feeling cost of living pressures, it is needed to simply maintain their current, modest standard of living. We are hoping to raise this amount through regular commitments.
The best way to support the vital work of Empathy Action, at this time, is to support the Solanky’s.
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“Right now in order to survive we need Ben to lead this mission…”
“…can you please help Empathy Action?”
Trustees of Empathy Action
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Paul Williams
Chair of Trustees
“we work to enable people to glimpse the broken lives of so many in our world”
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Laura Cook
Trustee
“this is a chance to encourage and be part of the ‘small things’, but as Mother Theresa once famously said, we can do “small things with great love”
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Mike Fawcett
Deputy Chair
“compassionate behaviour starts with changing hearts…opening them up to empathise with their brothers and sisters in more challenging situations”
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Isabel Hodgson
Trustee
“empathy is a proven potent and powerful driver for positive social change… it's our responsibility, and a real privilege, to steward others' empathy”
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Colin Crisp
Trustee and EA Management Committee
“small changes in understanding for the participants can lead to big changes in how people learn to be more compassionate towards others”
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Natasha Williams
Trustee
“this vital ‘seed sowing’ work…I’ve seen the power of a changed heart…it’s transformational”
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Jamie Macleay
Trustee and Treasurer
“modelling and showcasing empathy is what is needed to build an empathy generation”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this so important to Empathy Action now?
When starting Empathy Action in 2015 we set up the organisation as a charity staffed entirely by volunteers. The impact of this decision was primarily carried by the co-founders. The hope was to evolve, once the organisation had built a reputation as a proven and authentic empathy practitioner.
Things were looking promising in 2019. We had worked with a growing number of schools; supported and spoken at projects with the United Nations; created crafts with marginalised groups from the majority world; and were developing a new immersive workshop (with more in the pipeline). Then Director and Co-Founder Matt Gurney decided to step down. However, Ben chose to remain to lead EA onward.
Then came Covid-19. This led to a 2 year period of ‘holding on’ and ‘managing loss’. Only last year did we emerge and start a recovery plan which is now underway.
We see an amazing future for Empathy Action, one that is pioneering newer and more imaginative, immersive workshops; working with more groups to create crafts that share moments of solidarity with the marginalised; and being a new type of charity for an age like ours.
Ben, as the Director, has seen us through this period and pioneered a vision to take us forward. We’re excited about what’s next for Empathy Action, but right now we need him and he needs us to walk alongside him at this challenging time.
Why is Ben not salaried yet?
There are two sides to this: Personal and Corporate
Personal: Ben (and Angie and their boys) have followed a path of calling to ‘serve the poor’, anchored in their deep faith, since 2004. This led Ben to choose to operate as a full-time unpaid volunteer. This has been their decision.
They are supported by friends and family. They have not only worked to help others address and understand poverty, but lived it themselves.
Corporate: When Empathy Action is in a position to fairly remunerate, the Trustees would welcome the opportunity to employ Ben (if he wishes to choose this path) and other core staff. The charity is a long way from that stage. We are looking to address this, but believe it will take time, energy and a lot of prayer.
In the interim, we are exploring the necessary steps to secure the level of support Ben needs to direct Empathy Action into the future.
How can we support the Solanky’s?
We, as Trustees, are looking to boost the Solanky’s support by £1,500 per month to help meet the impact of:
the changes in their home situation and
the loss of various benefits
The figure of £1,500 would simply meet the cost of these changes, and make no allowance for Ben to make provision for his state pension or help the Solanky's deal with the rising cost of living.
Ben and Angie are registered as full time Christian missionary workers and eligible to receive money directed through Stewardship - and we will be working through this mechanism for any additional financial support generously afforded to them.
We would be happy to talk you through any issues or questions you may have and give you the broader context to this appeal (including some information which is sensitive).
Can we support them as a Company, Charity or Church?
Yes indeed. Please talk to us.
We don’t have money to give, but is there anything else we can do?
Absolutely. Prayers are the foundation of Empathy Action and indeed for Ben and Angie. We, too, believe in the power of prayer and our Team meets, virtually, once a week to pray (usually on a Monday morning from 9.00am on Zoom).