Knowledge Hub
A message Andy Burnham can't ignore
This week, we transformed an open field into a striking piece of campaign art with a message calling on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to reinstate humanitarian aid.
The installation was created to make visible the human consequences of political decisions. At a time when choices about the UK’s aid budget will affect millions of people around the world, we wanted to create a powerful reminder that behind every statistic are real people and real lives.
Behind the scenes: bringing the message to life
Turning a complex issue like aid cuts into a single, powerful message was a creative challenge. Working with Sand in Your Eye, our team explored how art could help make the human consequences of political decisions more visible and encourage people to stop, look and take action.
Public art has the power to interrupt everyday life. We wanted this installation to create a moment where people pause, take in the message, and think about the human impact of the choices being made about the UK's aid budget.
Why UK aid cuts matter
Last year, cuts to the UK’s aid budget put vital support at risk for communities facing some of the world’s most devastating crises. The consequences of these decisions are not just measured in budgets, they are measured in lives.
Without urgent action to reinstate UK aid, an estimated 5.1 million additional people could die by 2030 according to the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)
Our ‘Voice Your Concern’ campaign calls on the UK government to reinstate humanitarian aid and renew the UK's commitment to people affected by conflict, hunger and climate-related disasters.
Why now?
Our installation comes as the future of the UK's international aid budget is once again under the spotlight.
Recent discussions about the new governments spending priorities have renewed debate about the UK’s international commitments, including concerns about the impact future decisions could have on communities already facing severe crises.
This shouldn't be an us vs them choice
Too often, the conversation is framed as a choice between supporting people in the UK or supporting people overseas.
We don't believe those priorities should compete.
The UK can invest in affordable public services while also meeting its humanitarian responsibilities. These are not opposing goals. They are both part of building a fairer, safer and more resilient world. By making fair choices about taxation and public spending, the UK can fund strong public services while standing with people facing humanitarian crises abroad.
A message that reaches beyond the field
We chose land art because some messages deserve to be impossible to overlook.
Our hope is that this powerful visual encourages more people to join the conversation about why humanitarian aid matters and why the UK should continue to play a leading role in responding to global crises.
Our call to Andy Burnham
As Andy Burnham and the new government set their priorities, we are urging ministers to choose leadership over false choices.
Reinstating humanitarian aid is about more than restoring funding. It is about reaffirming the UK's commitment to protecting lives, responding to humanitarian crises and standing alongside communities facing extraordinary challenges.
The message written across the field represents millions of people whose lives depend on decisions made here in the UK. By signing our petition, you can stand with communities facing crisis and call on the government to reinstate life-saving humanitarian aid.
Add your name and call on the government to reinstate humanitarian aid.
