In Ireland in the 1700’s the Irish routinely drank from the same waters in which they dumped their rubbish and their sewage. Unknowingly, they polluted the rivers and lakes around their cities. People died as a result, and this made nearly everyone in Arthur Guinness’ day avoid water entirely. Instead, they drank alcoholic beverages. Many in Ireland began drinking liquors regularly which led, as you can imagine, to chaos. To help with this, some turned to brewing beer. It was lower in alcohol, it was safe—the process of brewing and the alcohol that resulted killed the germs that made water dangerous—and it was nutritious in ways scientists are only now beginning to understand. Monks brewed it, evangelicals brewed it and aspiring young entrepreneurs like Guinness brewed it. And they were respected and honored for their good works.
Inspired by Methodist John Wesley, Guinness poured himself in founding the first Sunday schools in Ireland. He gave vast amounts of money to the poor, sat on the board of a hospital designed to serve the needy and bravely challenged the material excesses of his own social class.
The Guinnesses decided, first, that they could better society by bettering the lives of their employees. They started by paying better wages than any other employer in Ireland. Then they decided they should provide an entire slate of services to improve the lives of their workers. With the passing of decades, they became one of the most generous, life-changing employers the world had ever known.
In England in the 1800’s the founder of Rowntree’s, Joseph Rowntree was a Quaker. Honesty and integrity was their watchword, with the welfare of their workers, and of the community in general, always paramount.
The establishment of a retreat to care for the mentally ill in a humane way was an example of their early philanthropy. And Rowntree’s were among the first to offer paid holidays and a company pension scheme along with a works doctor and dentist. Indeed, they were ahead of their time as regards industrial welfare, providing terms of employment and working conditions which only came much later in other industries.
Cadbury Chocolate was founded by a Quaker, John Cadbury, who has a strong sense of social responsibility motivated by his Christian convictions.
His family were anti-slavery and campaigned for abolition. John opened a grocery store in 1824 and hoped that selling drinking chocolate would be an alternative beverage to alcohol. He was concerned that alcoholism led to poverty when people couldn’t work. He devoted himself to social causes after handing over the business to his sons 35 years later.
Richard and George Cadbury continued to find ways of improving people’s lives. At a time when factories were dismal and dangerous places to work, the Cadburys made sure theirs were safe and humane. George was committed to social reform, and in 1893, they bought up land around their factory to build a community for their workers, named Bournville Village. They wanted to provide a safe, pleasant place to live as an alternative for grimy cities. Each home was comfortable and had a plot of land to grow vegetables. They built a community for families to enjoy activities. They provided their employees with good wages, medical treatment, educational opportunities, and pension plans, which was very unusual for the time. They introduced the 5-1/2 day work week and closing for bank holidays. The factory had sports facilities for the employees. In 1918, the Cadburys organized elected work councils, made up of equal numbers of workers and management. The councils, one for men and one for women, oversaw the welfare of workers and their families.
Christians have worked for a better future for those in need for 2000 years and these 3 are just some of many examples of this. Christians are not the only people seeking justice and working for the betterment of those in need but it has long been part of their tradition.
Aspire is founded by Christians, our board all identify as Christian and our staff team subscribe to our Christian ethos. There are numerous denominations within Christianity, including Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and others, each with its own interpretations of Christian doctrine and practice. Despite these differences, Christians are united in their belief in Jesus Christ and his teachings.
A Christian ethos refers to the values, attitudes, and practices that are characteristic of and shaped by Christian beliefs and teachings. This ethos encompasses a wide range of principles derived from the Bible and the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Key components of a Christian ethos typically include:
At Aspire our Christian ethos manifests in policies and practices that reflect these values, aiming to create environments that promote the well-being and dignity of all individuals in accordance with Christian teachings.
As a faith-based charity Aspire provides assistance to those in need and operates according to the principles, values, and teachings of Christianity. We draw our motivation, ethical guidelines, and operational philosophies from our Christian faith. Here are some key characteristics of what it means to be faith-based :
Aspire NI is a faith-based organization rooted in Christian values, committed to serving and supporting anyone in need, regardless of their background or beliefs. Our mission is to provide inclusive and compassionate assistance to any young person in need, fostering a spirit of love, respect, and dignity for everyone we serve.
