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2024 has been a momentous year for the HOPE family, as we celebrated 25 years of service in Kolkata.
Here at HOPE UK, we have been overwhelmed with the support that we have received, and the recognition we have gained, this year. Read on for our highlights from 2024!
2024 year began with a star-studded line-up.
Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons was named Special Ambassador for our anniversary year, Olivia Colman CBE and Dame Judi Dench backed our 25th anniversary campaign, while actress Shelley King was interviewed by Eastern Eye newspaper and Yours magazine about being a HOPE Ambassador.
A musical tribute was delivered courtesy of singer-songwriter Holly Riva, who’s song Hope (For Us) become our anthem for the year. Holly also wrote a wonderful blog about her childhood visits to Kolkata, and recently performed at HOPE’s Foundation Day celebrations.
Along with Holly, many other HOPE supporters, Ambassadors and staff contributed to our Stories of HOPE blog series. You can read these blogs on the HOPE website.
It has been an award-winning year for Maureen and HOPE.
Awards have included the Women Entrepreneur of the Year accolade at the Bengal’s Pride Awards, and the Favourite Yoga Charity gong at the Om Yoga Awards. And let’s not forget Hope Kolkata Foundation collecting the Humanitarian of the Year award at the West Bengal Federation of United Nations Associations Awards 2024.
Read the full list of awards won by HOPE in 2024!
Education is a core pillar of our work, and we were incredibly proud of one young woman from our programmes who was honoured with a scholarship for top Kolkata-based school, the Mahadevi Birla World Academy.
Meanwhile, another three talented girls were awarded the ‘Times Edushine 2024’ scholarship for academic excellence.
With our training programmes delivering life-changing opportunities, we congratulated Sandhya for opening her own beauty parlour, after completing HOPE’s Beauty Training course. And we sent best wishes to Rajesh and Subho for securing work placements in the hospitality sector.
Alongside their studies, the children also participated in celebrations and awareness raising events through the year, such as Bengali New Year, Rabindra Jayanti, and World Day Against Child Labour, to name a few.
Young dancers from HOPE’s programmes showcased their talents at a number of events, including a display held at The Heritage School, and HOPE’s own Foundation Day, which celebrated the theme of Unity in Diversity.
Finally, our teams in Kolkata have been busy holding free eye camps, delivering vaccination drives and providing emergency response to flood victims.
Our mobile dental ambulance celebrated its first year of operation, during which time it provided free treatment to 6,700 people, while Ashirbad Boys’ Residential Childcare Centre celebrated its 20th anniversary and one of the Residential Childcare Centres for girls marked its 17th anniversary.
Together, we did it!
Thanks to every supporter who contributed, and our match fund pledgers and our champion the Coles-Medlock Foundation, HOPE UK has exceeded its target for the Big Give… raising an incredible total of £55,763 (including Gift Aid)!
A very special thank you to HOPE’s Global Ambassador Reza Beyad, who made the first and last donations, and to actress and HOPE UK Ambassador Shelley King for supporting the campaign. And a special mention to the HOPE UK Trustees who contributed to this team effort.
It has been an epic Big Give, as we’ve aimed for our highest target to date. We are delighted with the result, which will enable us to help even more young women in Kolkata achieve their dreams.
They walked, ran, cycled, climbed and yoga’ed for HOPE! There’s no stopping our incredible and energetic supporters…
A five-strong team ran the London Landmarks Half Marathon in April; together raising more than £5,000.
Ian Bush completed the iconic London Marathon for HOPE, finishing the race in less than four hours despite an Achilles heel injury!
And HOPE UK Trustee Brendan Mackinney cycled through London and Essex in the Ford Ride 100 challenge, raising over £3,000.
Yoga fever took over in the summer as teachers and enthusiasts supported us through the Yoga for HOPE. The campaign, which featured in Yoga Magazine and Om Yoga Magazine, will be back next year!
Walking challenges proved to be popular this year.
Our Foot-steppers were back in action from April to May, walking 10k steps per day to raise funds for our education programmes, as part of the annual Footsteps for HOPE campaign.
Inspired by Footsteps for HOPE, Sharon, Leah and Kim created their own challenge in the autumn, walking 10 miles from Staines to Sunbury and back to raise funds for HOPE. And Bradley Williams walked a whole marathon at the Winter Walk in London.
Who can forget Emily and Greg Elphick? The dynamic duo walked the epic 800km Camino de Santiago for HOPE. Their four-week challenge included unpredictable weather, two BBC Radio interviews, a shout out by Chris Evans on Virgin Radio, and countless ham and cheese bocadillos!
Finally, Monica of Tecla Languages and her son Alessandro climbed to new heights to support HOPE by scaling the top of London’s O2 Arena!
Thank you to all our Team HOPE champions, we are extremely grateful and proud of you all!
Bedford was an event hotspot for HOPE, thanks to our Bedford Volunteer Group!
HOPE UK Trustee and Bedford committee member Seema Grantham held a fundraising event in her home, the group held a special screening of What’s Love Got To Do With It? at the Quarry Theatre and an exclusive Stargazing event at Bedford School [INSERT LINK TO POST WHEN LIVE], while Bedford-based golfers swung into action at an annual golf fundraising day.
“On behalf of the wider HOPE family, I am delighted to acknowledge and give thanks to the incredible work and support of our team at HOPE UK.
The dedication, passion and professionalism shown has ensured that HOPE UK has again, in this year of HOPE’s 25th anniversary, been hugely successful in raising awareness and funds for HOPE’s vital work in Kolkata.
Sincerest gratitude to our staff, Trustees, patrons and ambassadors, volunteers, supporters, and donors across the UK.
Thank you all.”
2024 has been a momentous year for HOPE and now we look to 2025 with a renewed sense of purpose and dedication to realise our vision of “a world where it should never hurt to be a child”.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our supporters, Patrons, Ambassadors and Trustees. Our work would simply not be possible without you and the collective efforts of so many!
If you would like to find out how you can get involved, or if you have any questions about our work in Kolkata or the UK, please do get in touch – juliette@thehopefoundation.org.uk.
From us all at HOPE UK, we wish you a very Happy Christmas and joyful New Year.
Best wishes,
the HOPE UK team
