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John --
Thanks to the support of 1046 HOPE not hate supporters, we’ve successfully hit our Christmas appeal goal. It’s an incredible achievement for everyone who took part, and makes me hopeful for our important work in 2021.
What a year we’re leaving behind. No one could have foreseen the terrible pandemic that has devastated our country and countries around the world. So many of us are grieving for loved ones. All of us have been affected by the economic hit, by lockdowns, and the fallout from it all.
In the midst of a horrendous year, there’s much to give us hope. Communities have pulled together, we’ve all been looking out for each other - and we can all be so proud - and grateful - for our NHS heroes, and frontline workers.
I’m so proud of the work of the HOPE not hate team. Our staff work incredibly hard. They’re so committed. Their work to challenge the far right and to provide the antidote of hope to the politics of hate has been as important as ever.
Next year will be no different. The economic fallout from Covid - from rising unemployment and debt to pay freezes, tax rises and public sector cuts - willl devastating. Deprived areas will be hit hardest, especially because of local council cuts to services - all coming after 10 years of austerity. History tells us economic stress leads to stresses within communities, making people vulnerable to the siren calls of the far right. On top of this, I must mention the threat of conspiracy theories. People who are drawn into anti-vaxx/lockdown conspiracies, but this is provides witha gateway to wider and more traditional conspiracies - particularly antisemitic conspiracies. We will all have our work cut out.
I’ll have more to say about our plans for 2021 early in the new year. We have a wide range of projects planned - and we’ll all need to be involved to be successful in our ambitions.
In the meantime I wanted to say thank you again to everyone who has supported our work this year.
All the best, merry Christmas, and have a peaceful break.
Nick Lowles
HOPE not hate CEO
John - we need your support in 2021
2020 has been a tough year for all of us, but it's also set up 2021 to be even tougher as the far-right will conitnue to exploit fear and economic devastation wrought by the Coronavirus crisis.
HOPE not hate exist to stop that from happening, and we need your help to do it. Will you step up today to support our work in 2021 by becoming a member?
