About BEARR

Mission

To promote and support cooperation between the third sector in the United Kingdom and appropriate partners in Russia and Eurasia, especially in health and social welfare, with a view to strengthening civil society.

"BEARR in Brief" leaflet

Current Priorities

The Trust believes that, despite considerable progress, external partners still have much to contribute to strengthening the status, role, and capacity of voluntary organisations in Russia and Eurasia. However, small NGOs and their partners now find it much more difficult to access even modest funding to set up or develop relationships.

Against this background, and drawing on its own experience, the Trust has as its priorities to:

  • Work with smaller organisations committed to reform in the health and social sectors
  • Facilitate networking and exchange of information
  • Encourage sharing of experience and learning
  • Help organisations working in the region to identify potential partners
  • Provide seed funding to assist selected organisations to launch or extend partnerships
  • Lobby, and seek wider support, for the role of smaller organisations

Click here for 2009 Annual Report and Accounts

Objectives for 2011  

·        Develop BEARR’s information-sharing and networking role through our website and  newsletter

 

·        Redevelop and relaunch the BEARR website; revamp the newsletter to make it more attractive in its printed form; and design a one-page pamphlet for publicity purposes.

 

·        Seek to consolidate cooperation with the academic community in the UK and in the region.

 

·        Run a conference and other events which help NGOs in the UK and in the region to make and maintain contacts and exchange experiences, and which provide a forum for discussion of developments affecting NGOs in the region

 

·        Select and support projects focussing on young offenders in Russia and throughout our region, through the 2011 Small Grants Scheme

 

·        Design, secure funding for, and prepare to launch the 2012 Small Grants Scheme

 

·        Raise funds and support for the Trust, including through the 2011 Annual Lecture and by expanding the Friends’ scheme


 


As well as a newsletter, publications include a child protection training pack, bilingual NGO directories, and an English-Russian glossary of social care terms. The Trust’s annual conference, in November, brings together NGOs, government, local authorities and the media to discuss topical issues. The interactive website responds to requests from small NGOs wanting a forum where they can find information, exchange experience, seek partners, staff and volunteers, access an archive of relevant data, and learn about forthcoming events in the sector.

   Organisation and Governance

The BEARR Trust is a UK registered charity. Its governance is set out in a Trust Deed which is governed by English law and which provides that, within the framework of the aims of the Trust, policy and major executive decisions are made by the Trustees.

Patrons

Trustees

The Duchess of Abercorn

Robert Brinkley CMG

Vladimir Ashkenazy

Megan Bick

Elena Bashkirova Barenboim

Jo Lucas

Lady Fall

Janet Gunn CMG

Myra Green OBE

Daryl Ann Hardman

Professor Geoffrey Hosking

Marcia Levy

Sir Roderic Lyne KBE CMG

Ann Lewis CMG

Sir Jonathan Miller

Tony Longrigg CMG (Chairman)

Anthony Oppenheimer

Jenny Norton

Rair Simonyan

Nicola Ramsden

Sir Andrew Wood GCMG

Robert Scallon

 

Janet Gunn CMG