Campaign Bootcamp offers something new for individual campaigners. It runs residential ‘camps’ to enable people who are most affected by injustice or inequality to get involved in changing the things that matter most to them.
The camps and follow up activities equip them with the skills, confidence and networks they need to do this. Priority is given to those with personal experience of poverty and other disadvantage.
Such individuals bring huge knowledge and understanding but can’t usually afford to pay for the training. Campaign Bootcamp had particular demand from disabled people, but found surprisingly little interest among funders in supporting this group, so they approached the Foundation.
This is a timely initiative, as recent social security changes and legal aid cuts have had a disproportionate and damaging impact on disabled people’s lives. Alongside this, many disabled people report feeling at best invisible, and frequently experience negative public attitudes. All this confirms the need to tackle this inequality and for the experience of real people to be brought to wider attention.
This is a young organisation which has done well over a short period. The grant was in line with our desire to encourage a greater voice for those who are less easily heard.