A veritable galaxy of stars has joined forces to celebrate acts of hope and kindness in neighbourhoods across the country for a new campaign to fight hate.
Dame Joanne Lumley, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Ranvir Singh, David Morrissey and Sophie Ellis-Bextor are just some of the 70-plus famous faces joining forces today to kick-off A Million Acts of Hope – a week of action to counter hate and division in the UK from 13-20 May.
The stars have added their names to more than 60,000 signatures gathered so far for the UK’s biggest ever thank you card celebrating the people who make their communities brighter – and are calling on the public to join them – and sign it too.
View 3 ImagesJoanna Lumley has also put her weight behind the week-long campaign(Image: Getty)
The card reads: “To the helpers and the doers. To the people who prove our communities can be healthier and happier if we pull together, not apart. Thank you. For rolling up your sleeves. For getting stuck in. For not giving up.
“You are the beating hearts of our villages, towns and cities. And because hate can seem louder than hope these days, we have never needed you more.”
It thanks the everyday heroes across the UK who are quietly making a difference in their communities – people like Barbara Scott, 75, who founded social group Butterflies for older people in Hartlepool.
She was inspired to set up Butterflies by her own experience of loneliness when her mother died in 2009 and she felt people who were experiencing isolation after retirement, deaths, divorce and living alone needed a place to get support and meet others.
Fondly known as ‘The Boss’ by the more than 70 group members aged 60-90, she organises the weekly meetings, day trips and holidays.
Barbara told the Mirror: “After my Mam died in Aug 2009 I became sad and lonely, missing the Saturday morning coffees we would have together each week. One of my work colleagues encouraged me to ring the local newspaper to say I needed a friend for Saturday morning coffee.
“Eight people answered that first call, and since then the group has boomed – some weeks over 120 people join us. I now have five groups in different parts of the town.
View 3 ImagesGMB’s Ranvir Singh is backing the week-long series of events (Image: Getty)
“I organise bus trips days out, weekends away, holidays abroad and even a cruise! Every town needs a Butterfly group, we support each other and have a good laugh.”
Actor David Gyasi told us, “There are so many people quietly making life better for others – from volunteers and carers to neighbours and community organisers. People are choosing compassion over division every single day.
“This campaign shines a light on these acts of generosity and solidarity and that’s what gives me hope. These are the people who remind me that together we are stronger and that’s why I am thankful.”
Despite increasing incidents of hostility and division in the UK, new polling released today by A Million Acts of Hope reveals that two thirds (65%) of the British public say that their community is peaceful and friendly’.
More than 350 communities across the UK will be holding events to celebrate and encourage acts of hope, with activities ranging from disco dances and arts sessions for people young and old, to plant swaps and sharing food from different cultures.
The campaign celebrates the people and places who make Britain hopeful and counter the voices of hate. It is an alliance of more than 200 charities, including Crisis, Save the Children, Trussell, The Wildlife Trusts, Refuge, Mencap, Together with Refugees and HOPE Not Hate.
See https://millionactsofhope.org for more.
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