Generous readers of The Guardian have propelled the newspaper's 2025 Hope appeal to raise a remarkable over £750,000 for vital charities working to bridge divides across the United Kingdom. The campaign, launched in December, supports five inspirational organisations dedicated to combating hatred, promoting tolerance, and uniting communities in the face of rising extremism and division.
Charities at the Heart of Community Solidarity
The funds are being distributed to five key partners: Citizens UK, the Linking Network, Locality, Hope Unlimited Charitable Trust, and Who Is Your Neighbour?. Each charity delivers practical, on-the-ground projects designed to build empathy and trust. Their work spans a wide range of community needs, from creating affordable housing and youth clubs to running arts initiatives and food banks.
In a powerful example of this solidarity in action, the appeal recently highlighted the community response in Liverpool following the Southport riots in 2024. When a local refugee support centre faced a threatened racist attack, thousands of people from diverse faith and community groups gathered to defend it, demonstrating a powerful collective stand against hate.
"There was a sense of relief, solidarity, hope. We had seen a big rise of hate, but [then] we saw a big rise of love," said Dr Badr Abdullah, chair of the Liverpool Muslim Society, a member of Citizens UK.
Grassroots Projects Fostering Hope and Dialogue
The editorial series accompanying the appeal has showcased the transformative work of these charities across the nation. In Belfast, the Circle of Change project run by Locality member 174 Trust holds monthly gatherings to unite people across barriers of race, class, and faith. Participant Maureen Hamblin described the experience as one that "restored my hope" and "humanised us all."
Other featured initiatives include:
- The work of Back on the Map in Sunderland, revitalising a neighbourhood impacted by far-right riots in 2024.
- Who Is Your Neighbour?'s pioneering sessions facilitating "difficult conversations" on race and immigration.
- The SaSh Jewish-Muslim charity food kitchen, supported by Hope Unlimited, which tackles both hatred and hunger with joy and determination.
A Resounding Response from Readers
The Hope appeal has clearly resonated deeply with the newspaper's audience. One donor expressed their support in an email, stating they were "so glad the Guardian is supporting organisations which bring people together, supporting what is humane and in common amongst us all."
Tony Armstrong, chief executive of Locality, extended his gratitude: "We want to thank Guardian readers for their kind donations. When people come together to listen and support each other, that’s when they create opportunities and hope for the future."
Set against a troubling backdrop of extremist violence, anti-migrant rhetoric, and resurgent racism, the success of the 2025 Hope appeal stands as a testament to a public desire for connection and positive change, directly funding the grassroots efforts that make it possible.
