Warwick students launch charitable organisation on campus

A group of Warwick students who have taken a pledge to give ten per cent of their annual income to charity as part of an organisation called ‘Giving What We Can’ (GWWC), have set up a Warwick cell for the organisation.

The launch, scheduled for Tuesday 1 May has an impressive line up with author Caroline Fiennes and Will Crouch, Managing Director of GWWC, giving talks.

GWWC, which is not a charity in itself, consists of members who pledge to give a percentage of their income to those charities which they believe utilise the donated money in the most cost effective way.

Members consist of some of the world’s most influential thinkers, including moral philosophers, economists and university professors. Three Warwick students have now joined their ranks as well as taking it upon themselves to set up a Chapter of the organisation at Warwick.

Second year Maths student Callum Calvert, Literature in Ethics PhD student Chris Maughan and Philosophy and Literature student Ben Clifford decided to set up a Warwick Chapter to increase awareness within the University’s student population.

Maughan commented: “I find being a part of a community of like-minded givers really empowering”. Whilst GWWC is a global organisation, Warwick’s chapter will be the 4th in the UK.

Fiennes is a former award- winning Executive Director of climate change charity Global Cool, as well as a charity analyst of charities, giving advice to charitable donors through the company Giving Evidence. She has advised donors such as the Big Lottery Fund, BBC Children in Need, professional tennis players and even some government departments on how to give to charity in the most effective way.

Fiennes’ recent book, It Ain’t What You Give, It’s The Way You Give It, details effective ways of giving and she will draw on this at the launch of Warwick’s GWWC on Tuesday. She will also discuss the importance of donating wisely and give some insight into how charities work. Fiennes also spoke at last year’s TEDxWarwick.

Crouch will focus specifically on the work of GWWC, explaining the role of individuals in the struggle to end poverty.

Calvert commented: “by quantifying the good we can do, we can help far more people than if we just donated to those causes put in front of us each day”.

To find out more about the Warwick Cell or their upcoming launch email warwick@givingwhatwecan.org