Spectator letters: the Rowntree legacy, and a suggestion for the Met police

Betrayal of Trust

Sir: Rod Liddle has traduced the Quaker values of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust that include non-violence, equality and truth in his piece, ‘Jihadi John, Cage and the fools who give it money’, 7 March.

Mr Liddle identified three recipients of JRCT grants: Jawaab UK, Cage, and Teach na Fáilte. Jawaab UK was not set up by an extremist Islamic maniac. On the contrary, it works to help young Muslims play their part in a democratic society. Cage, which JRCT ceased funding in January 2014, has in the past played an important role in defending the right to fair trial and due legal process. Finally, JRCT has not given money to the Irish National Liberation Army. Rather, having worked to build trust with all sides in Northern Ireland for more than 40 years, it has approved a ring-fenced grant to Teach na Fáilte, a support group for current and ex-prisoners, to build pathways to peace.

In the past ten years, JRCT has made 1,075 grants totalling £57 million. Our funding in South Africa and Northern Ireland demonstrates that building peace with justice requires patient, long-term work. Of necessity this will sometimes involve working with people whose views might appear difficult to reconcile, and who may have undesirable pasts. JRCT abhors violence, does not fund terrorism, and its goal is a peaceful and just society.
Nick Perks

Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, York

Lessons of Winterbourne

Sir: In your leader (7 March) you suggest that NHS hospitals such as Furness General Hospital would benefit from being forced to close in the same way that Winterbourne View was. The parent company of Winterbourne View is now under new ownership: same 20 homes, same 850 staff. The only people who have been taught a lesson are the company’s creditors.
Tom Roberts

Derby