Values

The values of the Touchstone Group, which guide our investment and philanthropic activities, are set out below.

Knowledge

Knowledge is the lifeblood of a healthy society, and being well informed is the key to making good decisions.

• We have a broad view on knowledge, which ranges from the scientific and analytical to the practical and personal
• Across all our activities, we understand the competitive landscape and best practice, and we seek to be distinctive and original
• We are committed to lifelong learning, so when the evidence suggests we need to change our practice, then we should
• We are committed to the promotion of knowledge as a public good

Care

Ethics begins with fellow feeling and our capacity to care for one another and the living planet on which we depend.

• An ethic of care is part of our organisational culture and underpins a humane approach to relationships with staff and others
• We bring an attitude of respect towards all of the people with whom we deal
• We are concerned with human suffering and how to alleviate it
• Care and attentiveness do not stop with the human world but extend into our relationship with other living creatures and the natural world as a whole

Tolerance

Touchstone operates with a high degree of respect for individual differences.

• We encourage everyone to articulate their own values and interests, and to live by them
• A healthy organisation has space for a plurality of voices and views, which help it to grow and evolve
• We aim to encourage individuality and the tolerance of difference while, at the same time, promoting shared values and strong leadership
• In line with our belief in the freedom of the individual, we avoid moralising or telling other people what to do and how to live
• We seek to make a contribution to the development of a more tolerant world

Enjoyment

Enjoyment is an end in itself and something to celebrate as part of life.

• We seek to create a work environment that is warm and inclusive, and to provide opportunities for our people to enjoy each other’s company.
• As an organisation, we are attentive to our staff taking pleasure in their work, and we seek to align their roles with their interests, inclinations and strengths.
• We value beauty and the poetic aspects of life, and seek to express these in what we do.
• Our creative work is designed not only to educate and inform our audience, but also to give them a sense of pleasure.

Pragmatism

Touchstone is an openly idealistic and mission-driven enterprise and, at the same time, we intend to make a difference that is tangible and measurable.

• We evaluate the success of what we do, and focus on areas that express our strengths and in which we have a competitive edge
• Our commitment to pragmatism is reflected in the importance we attach to best practice, efficiency, and exercising discipline around the analysis of costs and benefits
• We believe that clear lines of responsibility and strong leadership are essential
• Good decisions come when leaders consult widely, seeking a diversity of views, and then make a clear decision based on priorities and materiality
• Our activities are carefully considered and are built for the longer term, with strategic decisions being made with the capacity for long-term sustainability in mind