an enlightening suggestion by  

  In May 2009, I had a typically encouraging letter from the then Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. Our looks are a little rustier now, but his commitment and message have aged well: they're just as valid now as back then. (You may find much the same sentiments in the stories from schools on the right.)

Dear Mr Gibbons
It was indeed heart-warming to hear of your successes last year, and I wish you all the best with your present campaign.  I greatly value the input of faith groups, charitable organisations, NGOs and private individuals in the global struggle against poverty. The role of the individual in driving positive change is a crucial one: each and every person taking part in the 50 Days of Global Action Against Poverty reaffirms my belief that individuals can come together to make a difference...I am personally committed to the eradication of global poverty and supporting development in the poorest countries. It is therefore very encouraging to hear of proactive and positive community action in support of these same goals. I wish you every success in your efforts for this October's StandUp.

Stand Up/Sing Out Against Poverty & Inequality is an encore of likeable happenings in 2008-11 in which all sorts of UK schools - primary, secondary; state, independent, special, faith-based and so on - took part. I tried to make it fun with its sleeves rolled up.

On or around the annual UN Day for the Eradication of Poverty on 17 October - when schools UK were settled into their new year - they were a contribution to the worldwide expressions of solidarity with the Global Call to Action Against Poverty Campaign (GCAP). GCAP organised 50 Days of Action Against Poverty.  In 2009, over 170 million citizens gathered at more than 3000 even in 120+ countries - continuing to be a Guinness World Record as the largest mobilisation of human beings in recorded history.

The UK joined in. The smallest school had fewer than 50 pupils; the largest, more than 1800.  In a way, they were like a big campaign rally that lasted a few minutes and no-one had to walk anywhere. Many schools linked up with local communities, such as parishes. (Indeed, several on-side bishops declared theirs a StandUp Diocese.)  They generated good news stories for local press and other media. 

How did it come about? In mid-2008, I heard about GCAP at a meeting of BOND, the UK network of about 400 organisations working in international development - one of the national organisations in the GCAP. We heard that GCAP were facilitating worldwide standups against poverty around 17 October, and it seemed to me something that UK schools might like to join in somehow. As an independent organisation of just one, with a short decision path and time, I felt it would be possible to get something organised PDQ - simple, no cost for schools, and appealing at several levels.  These would also put to use different skills from acquired in business and in social justice campaigning. And the idea of mobilising even a few dozen pupils with just my laptop tickled the imagination.

So it meant me creating a simple form of ceremony for the school day, using Promises to the Poor based on the then Millennium Development Goals. The only resources needed were a laptop and time - to think up some words (and later on, a tune) and spread the word by e-mailing using the first contact addresses on school websites and other public domain sources.

Many picked up the idea - and helped set that Guinness World Record. They liked the StandUps an extra dimension to their education in citizenship and RE studies, and raising  awareness of needs and how they might be able help in time.  What they also liked was being together - alongside - so many others. What surprised was the enthusiasm and often extra actions.  Some bishops declared theirs as StandUp Dioceses, drawing in parishes as welL as schools.  MPs and government got an earful as a follow-through.

In 2011, I offered The Count On Us Song an a extra to the Promises. “I sang the song in the bath, scaring the cat”, said, ahem, a bishop.  Glee Clubs and directors of music were in tune as well.

After that, family and other events meant leaving StandUps fallow. distractions into Galleries - and the after-war memorials at Thanksgiving Field.  Happy Lndings website

There was also a change, with the introduction of the Sustainable Development Goals.  GCAP increased its activity - and got a new logo.

In 2015, the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) replaced the Millennium Development that had been the basis of the Just1 Promises to the Poor.

So I rewrote them as Our Promises on Poverty, again short and simple but referencing the SDGs in looking at different forms of poverty for schools to address. In each case "we want a world that wants..." sets up the need for action.  Then everyone they makes a promise that they'll do what they can to help with answering those needs - and the people already involved in taking action.

Food & Water Poverty come first.  Then Health & Wellbeing and Education Poverty. Fairness and Earth Resources Poverty follow.  And the Promises finish with Indifference Poverty -

UN's Sustainable Development Goals - of which you can see more on this page.

The Count On Us Song is much the same as it was, but reduced by one verse to four.  The tune is unchanged save for the suggestion of a few dotted crotchets to give a slightly jaunty air to the final line. 

So now you might like to look at them.

The Count On Us Song is also available to download as a PDF file - and as a short slideshow (after the Promises). Arrangements are available for piano/keyboard, wind band, guitar and rock ensemble.  Just click here for the page on them.