St. James’s Church is an affiliated member of the Twickenham and Richmond Branch of the United Nations Association (UNA). The UNA generally exists to promote the work of the United Nations. (UN Charter) Membership of the local branch gives us a means of working for peace and justice and making our voice heard in support of UN principles.

Twickenham and Richmond is an active branch with over one hundred individual members as well as affiliated members. The chairman is Councillor Virginia Morris.

Regular activities include lobbying local MPs, public and smaller meetings, local charity fairs and fund raising activities, pub lunches with invited speakers, collections for UNA/UNICEF, the production of a quarterly newsletter, proposing resolutions to the national UNA conference, and an annual civic Service to celebrate United Nations’ Day. Recent talkers have included Chris Patten, Martin Bell and Zac Goldsmith.

The branch, together with Amnesty International, has successfully lobbied the council for funds to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This has taken the form of a monument located in front of York House, Twickenham, very visible to traffic on the Richmond Road (opposite the Shell petrol station). UNA members addressed children in Richmond schools about Human Rights prior to their consultation sessions about the design with the artist.

Education is a particular area in which the Branch has worked for several years, providing talks and helping local schools to hold Model UN General Assemblies. These enable students to engage as they represent different countries debating an issue such as Global Poverty or Climate Change. Branch members help with the planning, the students’ preparation and chairing the actual event.