HOPE NOTTINGHAM 2008 - the vision

A group of local Church Leaders met after Youth Leaders had begun to get excited about the potential of Hope 08 and felt it was right to get involved in the national Hope 08 campaign.  There will be major events, festivals and initiatives  

The aim is to mobilise the church in Nottinghamshire to listen to their communities and to bring real Hope through actively loving and serving those around them.  We aim to do more, to do it together and to do it in word and action.  After major initiatives in the past, it was felt that now was the time to reach out to the people of Nottinghamshire, the whole church, for the whole of Nottinghamshire, for a whole year.

There will be High points in the year when there will be a season of activity in different areas of Nottinghamshire and all around the country.  Fresh Hope is an opportunity to listen to our communities and to discover what the needs are.  It could also be a time to invite friends and neighbours to lifestyle courses, losing weight or getting excercise together.  The Big Hope with activity based around practical exploration of Lent and the Easter Story, with the opportunity to consider donating blood as discussions are being held with the National Blood Transfusion service.  There will also be a major series 'The Passion' in Holy Week on prime time BBC TV.  What an amazing opportunity to talk to our friends about our Hope in Jesus.

During May and particularly throughout the Summer (August 26-29) we are seeking to challenge people to bring 'Hope where you live' through giving 50,000 hours of kindness, where people do acts of random  kindness in their communities, dependent upon the needs that become apparent and resources available.  People will also be attending the Pentecost Festival in London (May 9th - 11th) and other major events and festivals linked to Hope 08.  On June 13th there will be a concert at The Playhouse, Nottingham with Freddie Kofi and some other up and coming local artistes.  At the end of August churches will be helping to host festival events such as 'Massive Hope' in the Chilwell/ Beeston area and will be reaching out into their communities and then on August 30th and 31st we will be celebrating all that we have shared in Hope Nottingham in the Nottingham Market square.  A separate article is being posted particularly on this event.

In September there is 'Hope Explored' with churches running courses across Nottinghamshire such as Alpha, even a Business Alpha in the city centre hosted by churches in partnership together and a brand new course called Lyfe which is to be run in pubs and cafes.  Further information will be available on Lyfe shortly (see www.lyfe.org.uk).  Activity in December will focus on Advent and Christmas under the banner of 'The Gift of Hope'.  Whilst we aim to round off the year in some significant way (as yet to be decided), we would also anticipate that Hope Nottingham will have a significance beyond 2008 and that there will be a long lasting legacy which extends much further into the future. 

Partnership will be a key component of Hope Nottingham and so we are currently in conversation with public sector organisations such as the Police, Councils and people involved in health and education.  We aim to be strategic and responsible in the way in which we engage others, so that the best possible outcomes are achieved for the whole of Nottinghamshire.  "Hope 2008 wil be an excellent opportunity for people of all denominations of the Christian faith to unite in regenerating and transforming their communities, making them better places to both live and work.  Hope's interaction with Safer Neighbourhood Teams will offer the police, community and faith roups the chance to work together to make their area safer.  Hope 2008 has my full support."  Sir Ian Blair, Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

"We are seeing more and more people based in local churches, working to make a difference across their communities.  I welcome the contribution of Hope 08.  The Government is committed to working with faith groups to strengthen community engagement".  Rt. Hon Stephen Timms MP

Local Churches, Christian organisations, Senior Church Leaders and community leaders will be working together to bring Hope to the people of Nottinghamshire during 2008 and beyond.