National Ethical Investment Week successfully launched in Bristol

sponsored by Rathbones Greenbank

Bristol's National Ethical Investment Week event hailed huge success by ethical money experts

Make Your Money Count in Bristol was the first event for National Ethical Investment Week which finished yesterday. 100 people gathered at the Council House to explore what it means for money to be ‘ethical’ and make a positive impact, such as through sustainability and fair trade.

Part of National Ethical Investment week and Bristol Festival of Ideas, the event was organised by leaders in the ethical money arena, including Triodos Bank, Bristol Credit Union, Shared Interest and the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility. Bristol is a centre of excellence in sustainability – runners up for the title of European Green Capital and a leading Fairtrade City.

Amongst the many contributors to the event, the keynote speakers were Sarah Pennells, founder of SavvyWoman.co.uk and author of 'Green Money' and James Vaccaro, Triodos Bank and UKSIF.

Lee Coates, Director of UKSIF commented 'What a brilliant day. One of the best ethical money conferences I have been to.'

Feedback from the event showed that people had learnt an incredible amount and increased their commitment to investing and spending ethically. The following pledges were taken:

Move my bank account: 14 people
Invest Ethically: 27
Challenge my provider: 14
Buy more Fairtrade: 23
Campaign: 13
Others: 4 - promote awareness about the issues, 1 - persuade my workplace to bank ethically, 1 - make Bristol a tax-haven free authority.

Presentations and some of the workshops were filmed and are available to view here:
 http://bristolgreencapital.org/make-your-money-count/