A MAJOR independence fundraising effort by Believe in Scotland (BiS) has been launched ahead for its 2024 campaign – and every donation will be doubled.
BiS’s sister campaigning group, Business for Scotland, will match the first £30,000 raised pound for pound.
The crowdfunder will run until St Andrew's Day on November 30 2023, with donation rewards available. You can donate here.
The group has also guaranteed supporters that 100% of all funds raised will be spent on direct action, including Yes groups' independent campaigning support "through training courses for activists, supplying of materials and offering practical help in running their events".
BiS also revealed it is finalising the dates of two more marches and rallies in 2024, "building on the success of our September 2023 event".
The group added: "We are organising two national Days of Action and 12 targeted indy campaign days where activists across Scotland will team up with local Yes groups to hold large-scale campaign drives throughout the course of the year.
"We are producing a series of economics explainer videos making the economic case for independence and organising more high-profile billboards and banners, guerrilla building projections, as well as everything else we did last year – only more often and better."
The group's third Scottish independence congress to be held in early 2024 is understood to open to wider participation to help steer campaigning plans for the year.
Donation rewards
BiS is also keen to show appreciation for donations, stating: "To show our appreciation and for a bit of fun, we have created the donation rewards below. We are also running a crowdfunder raffle to win a one-of-a-kind original artwork from Wee Skribbles called 'Scotland Rising', which we will reveal as the crowdfunder progresses.
"Three runners up (18+) will win a bottle of our new limited edition run Believe in Scotland Scotch whisky."
Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp, the founder of Believe in Scotland said: "We don't believe that successful independence campaigns are run solely by politicians. The main thing that moved the polls in 2014 was grassroots Yes groups and local activism.
READ MORE: Edinburgh Council spent children's toy fund on promoting coronation
"Now for the first time, we have 142 grassroots local and national Yes groups collaborating to do the hard work that will move Scotland's cause forward and pressure the politicians to up their game.
"I am fed up with activists telling me that the politicians aren't doing enough and politicians telling me that the grassroots aren't doing enough. Westminster roadblocks on the road to independence are there to be smashed through. Scotland certainly does not need Westminster's permission to become independent, we just need the support of the people.
"So, if we want independence in the future, we have to campaign today.
"We are the Yes movement – let’s get moving."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel