But other fundraising efforts are undermined by bank account closures, reports Sally Hobbs.

The Big Ride for Palestine 2025 moves up a gear this weekend, with the 36-mile Manchester ride on August 2^nd, the 43-mile Birmingham leg on the same date, the London and Sheffield rides on August 9^th and the Newcastle leg on August 16^th.

The Big Ride for Palestine has been organising bike rides across the UK since 2015 to raise solidarity, funds and awareness for Palestine. The Big Ride works closely with the Middle East Children’s Alliance to fund sports and play projects that allow children to find space and support to live normal children’s lives.

But raising these vital funds has been undermined by yet another attack on those who seek to provide any aid or support to Gaza’s besieged and starving people. Both Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine (GMFP} and Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign have recently had their funds frozen without any explanation or advice on what is required to unfreeze them.

Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine have organised over 100 demonstrations through the city centres of Salford and Manchester in the last year and a half, publicised boycott actions and supported the closures of Israeli arms firms and their linked companies, and have raised money for people in both Gaza and the West Bank. As a result of local people’s work and donations, GMFP have been able to send some £30,000 to local voluntary organisations working on the ground there – and we want to continue to be able to do so. 

Owen Cooper, a founder member of the Big Ride for Palestine and co-treasurer of GMFP has been unable to get any of the money back.  Despite repeated contact with Virgin Money and parent bank Nationwide, GMFP have been given no information on how to resolve the issue. This means that funds raised at many events, street collections and appeals and intended for donation to the primary grassroots organisations we help, such as Medical Aid for Palestine, Middle East Children’s Association and Gaza Sunbirds (cycling athletes in Gaza who lost limbs due to Israeli snipers and now distribute what food and water is available by bikes), cannot be paid at a time of desperately needed help.

On Saturday August 2nd, I will be riding 36 miles with over 250 others in the Manchester leg of The Big Ride for Palestine 2025, while other cities take to their bikes for the same purpose, for example in London on August 9th. Protest and awareness-raising have always gone alongside fundraising for the past ten years. Freezing banking services for two organisations with no reasons provided adds an increased level of complexity and risk to any actions. 

In the past, funds from The Big Ride have enabled the building of largescale play and therapeutic resources for children in Gaza as well as health care for mothers and children through MECA and our strong local connections with Dr Mona Al- Fara, founder of MECA and former Red Crescent CEO. We hope to raise significant funds through these activities and have the right to expect that banking services are available.

Preventing access to legitimate funds used for peaceful purposes is another direct attack and must be overturned. GMFP are asking organisations and individuals to take this up through their branches and directly with Nationwide, especially those with bank accounts there. Motions deploring this attack on financial service access can also be copied to the CEO of Nationwide Building Society, Debbie Crosbie, email debbie.crosbie@nationwide.co.uk or ceo@nationwide.co.uk.

Organisations or individuals with Nationwide accounts: please CLICK HERE for an online complaint form; or Email Customer Service Centre. Here is an outline draft supplied by GMFP’s Chair: “I support Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine, who hold a bank account with you and now cannot access it. I understand that you refuse to tell GMFP why you’ve stopped us/them from using what is our own money. You’ve said ‘We’ll be in touch when things change’. What things? GMFP have been with you for 40 years and had no problem. No donor is understood to have any financial or criminal issues. GMFP helps small NGOs in Palestine who are currently suffering Israeli genocide; you are stopping GMFP continuing to send them vital aid. You are breaking international law by assisting this genocide. Permanently depriving GMFP of their own money is theft. You won’t even let them talk to anyone who could tell them what is wrong,, or give them back their money.  Please restore the bank account now.” [750 character limit; this is 661].

PLEASE NOTE:  The Big Ride have different banking funding arrangements and can assure riders and donors that money raised will be paid directly to the Palestine charities they support.

Sally Hobbs is a Palestine supporter and activist in Manchester.