The Olive Network is an online platform that aims to foster tolerance and understanding throughout diverse global communities by focusing on the positive long-term contributions of charities, the arts and humanities. With stories that show people making a difference in the local community and globally, they aim to connect long term thinkers – charities, organisations, individuals, scientists, educators, artists – with people who support them.

The web platform was founded by artist and filmmaker Roger Thorp, from Chapel-en-le-Frith in Derbyshire, UK. Concerned with the earth, humanity and spirituality, he built the Olive Network to express joy and foster tolerance and understanding throughout diverse global communities – by focusing on the positive long term contributions of charity, the arts and humanities.

The team curate stories from around the world that illustrate the good, long term things happening amidst the short term babble of politics and media.

The Olive Network helps organisations create their own page on the network where they can post stories to their newsfeed and tell people who they are – to reach a new audience in a place where the population has positive thinking at heart.

Each subscriber can create a network of personal friendships and chosen organisations. They can create their own boards and library to share with their friends. From children using the internet as a window on the world to students of the arts and humanities, international development, environmental studies and ethics, to anyone interested in progressive enlightened thinking, the Olive Network will be an easily accessible resource for individuals to learn about the important issues posted.

Powered by the Values Exchange, which was created by Professor David Seedhouse from his highly regarded work in ethics and decision-making, the Olive Network gives everyone a real say about issues that matter most. “We share stories to help make positive knowledge grow.”

The Olive Network has grown not only as the upshot of an internet innovation but as the result of years of work in ethics, charities fundraising, media, communications and the arts.

Long term they hope to become a valuable resource in education, for research and international development.

British artist