The Equality Trust was launched in 2009 by Bill Kerry, Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson. The idea for the Trust was developed from 2007, after Kate and Richard secured a publishing deal for The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better (the original hardback title) and Bill recognised the potential for a campaign based on their evidence.
In 2008 the The Equality Trust was awarded funding by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust which enabled the founders to commission a website and employ their first member of staff. The Equality Trust’s launch coincided with publication of The Spirit Level on 5th March 2009.
The focus of the Equality Trust was promoting policies that would take us towards a more equal society – as well as responding to political developments relating to top pay and income inequality. In May 2015 we obtained charitable status.
We now have nine members of staff and a strong and vibrant Board of Trustees. Our vision is for everyone to have a good life, and we work to challenge concentrations of wealth and power to create conditions for communities to thrive. We gather evidence, make connections and campaign.
The Trust continues to be funded through a combination of charitable trusts and support from many generous individuals and organisations for which we are very grateful.