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.

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

See below for 2008 Annual Report and Accounts

Objectives for 2010 

·        Develop BEARR’s information-sharing and networking role through the Website and Newsletter

·        Re-develop and re-launch the BEARR website and trial a new monthly bulletin

·        Seek to embed collaboration with the academic community in the UK, including through the NGO Development Programme  with CEELBAS, and with the academic community 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 focusing on homelessness in Russia, and on  youth mental health throughout our region, through the 2010 Small Grants Scheme

·        Design, secure funding for, and prepare to launch the 2011 Small Grants Scheme

·        Raise funds and support for the Trust, including through the 2010 Annual Lecture and by expanding the Friends’ scheme

   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.