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Ethic of accountability
This page is provided for public accountability in how my work is funded - see
Table below.
Some of my activist work has been controversial, so I think it important to be transparent
about income and the larger or potentially controversial sources of my funding.
One of the things that this does is that it provides a framework of discipline
by which to test what I agree to do or not do in terms of whether I can openly
justify it. This matters in areas of work where it is so easy to become
co-opted. The table below covers the period 1998 to
present. Further information on some of this work is on the full or short
versions of my CV. My work is entirely self-employed and resourced from
writing, speaking and contract teaching. Much of what I do is unfunded and it
can therefore help greatly to hear from potential benefactors or be pointed
towards new funding sources. The Centre for Human Ecology (which has registered
charitable status) is particularly in need of funding to sustain the
independence of its radical teaching programme. I can be contacted on
mail@alastairmcintosh.com although you will have to confirm that you are not
a spammer on a bounceback that you'll initially get from my spam filter.
How I do or don't charge for doing events, and policy on
travelling/flying People often ask what I charge for
giving presentations. I have no fixed fee as I try to do what seems
important rather than merely what pays well. As such, I ask groups to pay
what they can afford, if they can afford it. This varies from top going
commercial rates, down to zero.
My totally unpaid work is mainly for local groups where necessary.
I do ask groups to factor in travel time and to remember, for example,
that a train journey to the far south of England involves the best part of 2
day's time to/from Scotland. If undertaking well-funded paid work I usually
ask 50% of the agreed fee rate for travel time. Also, I ask people to
consider that being entirely self-employed I
have to cover all my own overheads and that for each day's work that I do
for an organisation there may be several days that go in to the research,
preparation and background that make for a distinctive contribution.
Generally I use high paid corporate and governmental work to cross-subsidise
the things that can't pay or offer only a modest honorarium. Honorarium
culture is a bit of a problem for me as it tends to presume that people are
on a salary in the background somewhere! My financial transparency (in the
table below) reveals that I make a living, but not a killing, which is how
it should be for mutual right relationships. Much of my work is
international - with war, climate change and corporate responsibility issues.
Although I am aware of the implications for climate change I therefore do fly.
To get to many European destinations would take two days each way by train from
where I live, and nobody's going to pay me for that. Either I stay at home and
don't work on international issues, or I do it the way I have to do it. However,
I turn down quite a number of invitations each year where I feel I can't
adequately justify the carbon karma - even where they may be well paid. I don't want to discourage invitations, but
I do ask for discernment over whether I am the best person to bring from a long
way. Also, it helps greatly if distance events can be doubled up. For example,
if you'd like me to speak in your area have a look at my itinerary to see if I'm
going to be nearby doing something else.
On average I do about 2 events a week which, in practice, is quite demanding
when fitted in with writing and local activities. I've therefore found that I
have to try and reduce wear-and-tear to keep it sustainable. To be on good form on arrival and departure I am no longer as
willing to rough it as was once the case. That doesn't mean first class
travel or
4-star hotels, but it does mean that when I go places I need somewhere with
reasonable peace and quiet to relax and keep up to date with my other work
including, if possible, free wireless internet
access.
Organisations
that want me to speak to them or teach should make contact by email in the first
instance. If you think your email has become tangled in my spam checker, or
if you otherwise haven't
had a reply within reasonable period of time, then phone preferably during
office hours.
My itinerary gives approximate dates when I'm otherwise booked,
but as this does not include most personal events it should be taken as a
rough guide only. Some of the things I'm booked for may be flexible. My contact details are
here.
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Table of Financial Accountablity |
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1998 - March 2009 |
| April 2008 to March 2009 |
Total turnover this year was £28,997. Of that, £3,373 was
bulk purchase of books for resale and promotion giving a turnover from
my main activities of £25,624. From this tax deductible business
expenses of £6,922 leaves a net taxable income of £18,701 for the year.
The main sources of income were writing and royalties (£1,179),
speaking fees (£8,867), teaching fees (£4,200), broadcasting fees
(£455), consultancy (£10,517) and book sales (£3,779 - mainly bulk sales
to organisations with which I work - I am not a book retailer though I
sell copies of my own works at some events).
Major (over £1,000) or potentially contentious major sources of
income sources during the year were £1,800 for 200 copies of Hell and
High Water sold to Lafarge for distribution to worldwide senior
management at a conference I addressed (I do not accept fees from
Lafarge for reasons given
here, but I don't mind selling at full whack my book about climate
change); from WWF international for consultancy £5,760 for a report
reviewing their partnership with Lafarge, £2,000 for a report on WTO and
environmental controls on the cement industry, and £1,200 for teaching
on the One Planet Leaders programme; £2,700 from Atlantic NLG (natural
gas) in Trinidad for a video presentation in preference to flying to
address them directly; £3,725 for teaching and thesis supervision on the
CHE MSc in human ecology in partnership with Strathclyde University;
£1,275 for speaking fees at the University of Saskatchewan Dept of
Native Studies, and £350 for lecturing to the UK Defence Academy on
Nonviolence. The speaking fee from Shell plc noted below actually fell
into my accounting period for this financial year.
I expect 2009-10 to be less productive - two major events having
already cancelled due to credit crunch cutbacks. |
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| April 2007 to March 2008 |
Total turnover this year was £22,206, leaving a net
taxable income after deduction of business expenses of £15,846. This
came roughly one third from each of speaking fees, teaching fees and
consultancy fees, plus about £1,000 from writing royalties.
Most of the consultancy work was from both WWF international and WWF
UK, with a little from Friends of the Earth in Northern Ireland. The
speaking included a €2000 fee for a lecture on corporate ethics to
Shell, nearly half of which was recycled into causes including the
Centre for Human Ecology as part of an ethical discernment about such
engagement. £1,600 was received jointly from the Scottish Government and
the Economic & Social Research Council for preparing a paper and
participating in a forum on the fishing industry. And some two thirds of
the teaching money came from Strathclyde University for teaching on the
MSc in human ecology, supervising theses, etc.. |
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| April 2006 to March 2007 |
Gross taxable turnover this year was only £12,007 due to
not taking on engagements in the New Year because of Ossian's loss, and
to working on climate change book. Business expenses allowable by the
Inland Revenue were £5,875, leaving a net taxable income for the year of
£6,132. This included:
 | £4,635 from Strathclyde University / Centre for Human Ecology
for teaching. |
| £1,200 teaching fees from Gibson Institute, University of
Belfast. |
| £100 expenses from Lafarge for service on their Sustainability
Stakeholders' Panel. No fee was received for this work which
continues as aftermath of the Harris superquarry campaign. |
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| April 2005 to March 2006 |
My gross turnover was £18,664, with business
expenses allowable by the Inland Revenue of £8,385, leaving a net
taxable income for the year of £10,280. This included:
| £5,600 for consultancy with the GalGael Trust beyond the remit of
normal voluntary Board duties, in accordance with Article 30 of the
constitution. This was for management and accountancy
services. |
| £5342 for teaching from the Centre for Human Ecology /
Strathclyde University. |
| £385 was received from Lafarge as expenses reimbursement for
service on their Sustainability Stakeholders' Panel. No fee was
received for this work which continues as aftermath of the Harris
superquarry campaign. |
| £900 in speaking fees plus travel expenses were received from the Ministry for
Defence for lecturing on nonviolence at ATR Bassingbourne, and twice
at the Joint Services Command & Staff College (see note below). |
| $1,000 from the Garrison Institute in the USA, £500 from the
Russell Trust and £400 from Pollard & Dickson Trust for N.
America lectures as part of bringing back the summit
of Mt. Roineabhal. |
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| April 2004 to March 2005 |
My gross turnover (before deduction of expenses allowable
by the Inland Revenue) for this year has been £14,575.70, the main
components of which were £3023 in speaking fees, £6,000 in
consultancy, £4450 in teaching fees, and the rest for writing,
royalties, etc.. After deduction of £8,997.77 of expenses for running
my office, travel, etc., my net income for the past year was £4,314.82.
This figure has been accepted by the Inland Revenue. Our family finances
balance because of gifts from benefactors, Verene's earnings and the
fact that we have no debts. Receipts exceeding £500 were:
| £500 from the Anglican Diocese of Liverpool for Clergy training. |
| £3,000 from the Centre for Human Ecology for teaching on the
Field Trip and Spiritual Activism module. |
| £500 plus travel from WWF International for a lecture in
Switzerland. |
| £600 plus travel expenses from the Ministry of Defence for lecturing
(on nonviolence) on the Intermediate and Advanced Command &
Staff Courses. |
| £742.98 in expenses claimed against receipts from Lafarge for
work connected with their Sustainability
Stakeholders' Panel. I do not take payment for this work, which
is part of laying down the Harris superquarry campaign. However,
Lafarge staff did arrange for me to be a speaker at a conference on
CSR at the INSEAD European Business School, and I accepted a
speaking fee of €500 (£317) from the School for this, plus travel
expenses and accommodation. |
| £777 from Jersey Education Dept & College for
speaking/travel. |
| £6,000 from the GalGael Trust, Govan, for consultancy mainly on
establishing and fundraising for our new £400,000 premises at
Fairley Street. This work was in excess of normal unpaid Board
duties as the Treasurer, and was agreed in advance by the Board,
notified to our auditors, and paid in accordance with Article 30 of
our constitution, which the Inland Revenue have approved and which
permits such payments. |
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| April 2003 - March 2004 |
Gross income for the financial year 2003-04 was
£10,212, expenses were £6,938, leaving a net taxable income as agreed
with the Inland Revenue of £3,274. My main work was preparing course materials for the Open
University accredited master's module in Spiritual
Activism that I am developing and teaching at the Centre
for Human Ecology in Edinburgh. This received full accreditation from the
Open University Validation Unit. I also undertook broadcasting work - especially the 4-part BBC
Radio Scotland "Voices for Peace" series. Payments received in excess
of £500 during the financial year were £591 from the BBC, £667 for management
training with Groupe Credit Mutuel, £700 for postgraduate thesis supervision
from the Faculty of Science & Engineering in the University of
Edinburgh, £2,800 for module teaching and field trip organisation with
the CHE, and a grant of £1,870 from the Network for Social Change to
help with the work being undertaken with Lafarge withdrawing from the
Harris superquarry. |
| 2002 to March 2003 |
Gross income for the financial year 2002-03 was £10,980,
expenses were £6,156, leaving a net taxable income of £4,824. Verene and I have got by mainly from bits of
consultancy work and earnings from writing, speaking, broadcasting teaching etc. - comprising
about £5,000 for each of us, our personal resources bolstered by friend and
family benefactors. Payments received in excess of £500 during the
financial year were £1,615 for thesis supervision and teaching at the CHE,
£600 for an article on St Andrew and feminism for the Daily Mail, and £1,765
remaining advance from Aurum Press on Soil and Soul. As of September 2002 Verene has procured 2 year's
funding for her work, now called the "Community Programme",
which she is managing at the CHE. This involves undertaking Training for Transformation
with black and minority ethnic communities in
Scotland. I advise on this programme, and help especially with fundraising for
it and with looking at aspects of Scottish identity vis-a-vis ethnicity, but I am not employed by it. Her
salary, however, helps to support the work of us both. Payments received by me
in excess of £500 during the financial year were £2,650 for thesis
supervision, module teaching and field trip organisation at the CHE, £2,500 for
senior management training at Groupe Credit Mutuel, and £500 from the Francis
Camfield Charitable Trust for community activism training. |
| April - Dec 2001 |
Gross income for the financial year 2001-02 was £8,752,
expenses were £4,372, leaving a net taxable income of £4,379. Verene and I were supported by funding from a private benefactor
for her work, and from a £5,000 transitional
grant that Rowntree gave to me and which the Inland Revenue kindly agreed could
be classed as a tax-free redundancy payment (Ah, that's what I like -
"redundant" social activists!). This indirectly, but crucially, enabled my primary
activity that year being to step back in temporarily and serve as Executive Director of the Centre for Human Ecology
in an unpaid capacity, whilst sorting out certain organisational problems and
procuring funding for the appointment of a permanent Executive Director. I did
not apply for this post, and for various reasons, I am delighted that Osbert
Lancaster has been appointed and is making such a good job of things on a
horribly tight budget - see www.che.ac.uk .
Payments received in excess of £500 during the financial year were
£1,000 for teaching at the CHE and £640 for teaching at Edinburgh
University. |
| The 3 years 1998 - March 2001 |
Action for Transformation is the name that my wife, Vérène
Nicolas, and I, gave to our work when I was funded with an annual grant of
£23,000 including expenses by the Quaker Concerns budget of the Joseph Rowntree
Charitable Trust for the three years ending March 2001. Over that period we both
lived mainly from this. Many of the outputs of
this programme will be found listed in the publications section of this website.
It involved community empowerment work with such issues as land
reform, environmental protection, urban deprivation and issues of identity,
belonging and ethnicity. Examples include:
| Having co-founded the Isle of Eigg Trust, and followed this through with
action contributing to Scotland's land reform legislation in the new
Parliament. |
| Playing a key role in blocking development in a National Scenic Area of
the proposed Isle of Harris superquarry. |
| Working with Glasgow Mosque on combating Islamophobia, and other
anti-racism initiatives, particularly our Embracing Multicultural
Scotland project and follow-up studies. |
| Working with the head of the Department of Economics in the Russian
Academy of Sciences and with the Russian Orthodox Church on the relationship
between religion and economics. |
| Undertaking a national values discernment process - People and
Parliament.
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| Co-founding and providing regular management advice to the GalGael
Trust - a group of marginalised urban youth in Glasgow who are
reclaiming their culture and traditional boatbuilding skills as an antidote
to despair. |
| Working for the removal of nuclear weapons from Scottish soil, including
addressing some 400 senior officers for each of the past 5 years at military
staff college, and being arrested (but found "not guilty") for
participating in a mass blockade at the Faslane submarine base. |
| Writing Soil and Soul and other publications, to suggest where
wellsprings of hope can be found. |
Vérène's work, also based at the Centre for Human Ecology where she too is
a Fellow, has involved working with marginalised women in Scotland and
especially, introducing skills drawn from the Training for Transformation
programme. For information about her work, click www.VereneNicolas.org
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Last Updated:
22 December 2009
www.AlastairMcIntosh.com
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