Key Takeaways
- The 2025 Guardian appeal has raised over £500,000 for five charities that promote tolerance and tackle racism and hatred.
- The charities supported by the appeal include Citizens UK, the Linking Network, Locality, Hope Unlimited Charitable Trust, and Who Is Your Neighbour?
- The appeal aims to bring together divided communities and promote positive change through practical projects such as affordable housing, youth clubs, arts projects, and food kitchens.
- The charities deliver projects designed to foster empathy, build trust, and promote positive change on issues that matter to local communities.
- The appeal has struck a chord with donors, who believe that love and kindness can make a difference in bringing people together and building hope.
Introduction to the Guardian Appeal
Generous Guardian readers have so far raised more than £500,000 for the Hope appeal, which supports inspirational grassroots charities that bring together divided communities, promote tolerance, and tackle racism and hatred. The 2025 Guardian appeal is raising funds for five charities: Citizens UK, the Linking Network, Locality, Hope Unlimited Charitable Trust, and Who Is Your Neighbour? These charities deliver practical projects designed to foster empathy, build trust, and promote positive change on the issues that matter for local communities, from affordable housing to youth clubs, arts projects to food kitchens.
The Impact of the Appeal
The appeal launched earlier this month as a constructive blast of hope and optimism against an increasingly unsettling backdrop of extremist violence and harassment, anti-migrant rhetoric, and the re-emergence of “1970s-style racism”. The coverage of the appeal has included stories of inspirational projects, such as SaSh, a Jewish-Muslim charity food kitchen project supported by Hope Unlimited that tackles hatred and hunger with joy and irrepressible determination. As one donor told the Guardian, "The story about SaSh was beautiful and gives me hope." This sentiment is echoed by a SaSh trustee, Andrea Chipman, who said, "When everything’s feeling a bit hopeless, [it’s] a very local hands-on way where you can make a difference."
Stories of Hope and Resilience
Other recent highlights of the appeal coverage include Taj Ali’s Guardian film featuring the work of Locality member Back on the Map, a community organisation revitalising a Sunderland neighbourhood after far-right riots in 2024. Additionally, Helen Pidd’s report on Who Is Your Neighbour?’s pioneering work holding "difficult conversations" has showcased the importance of bringing people together to promote understanding and empathy. These stories demonstrate the impact that the appeal can have on local communities and the lives of individuals, and highlight the importance of promoting tolerance, compassion, and common humanity.
Response to the Appeal
The appeal has struck a chord with many donors, who believe that love and kindness can make a difference in bringing people together and building hope. One donor emailed, "This country is full of decent and wonderful people who want to help those around them. Hate doesn’t help those who are in need, love and kindness do." This sentiment is shared by Gurinder Josan Singh, the chair of Hope Unlimited, who said, "We are incredibly grateful to Guardian readers for your generous support. We believe by funding local organisations at the forefront of the fight against hate and division, your donations will make a huge difference in bringing people together and building hope."
Conclusion and Future Outlook
The Guardian editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner, said when introducing the appeal, "Our charities – and the projects they support – are united in the belief that however loud the forces of hate and division, they will never drown out the values shared by the vast majority: tolerance, compassion and common humanity." As the appeal continues to raise funds and awareness for the important work of these charities, it is clear that the impact will be felt for years to come. The generosity of Guardian readers has shown that even in the face of adversity, there is always hope for a better future, and that together, we can make a difference in bringing people together and promoting positive change.
