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On January 19, 2022, Hopestead held its first ‘Hope Funds Partnership Working Event’. It was an informal get-together (we hosted it in a beautiful yurt, and shared breakfast and pizza!) for local organisations involved in our Hope Funds initiative.

Hope Funds

Through the first Hope Funds round of funding (around six months ago) we awarded grants to 11 local organisations. Six of those were able to attend the event.

We organised the meeting to offer the opportunity for all our partners to share successes, learning, and challenges in their projects. It was also a chance to share highlights or specific case studies of the projects supported by Hope Funds grants.

The day was very beneficial, and we’re really pleased with how it turned out. There were some great interactions, we made new connections, and shared very interesting insights for everyone to take away. We all agreed that it was great to meet like-minded people. Taking time out of the day-to-day work to collaborate and share with each other was a valuable experience.

Feedback on the event

We had some wonderful feedback from some of our attendees:

I just wanted to thank you again for yesterday’s generous event at the amazing Thetford Garden Centre.

I found it so valuable and such a pleasure to meet the other recipients of your grants. It was inspiring and encouraging to be in that lovely cosy yurt with people who were on the same wavelength…all genuinely supportive and understanding of the aims we are all after, as well as the trials and tribulations of achieving it.

Great positive vibe from everyone there towards Hopestead’s funds that have helped so much.

We thoroughly enjoyed meeting the other organisations and learning from them.  It was lovely to have some time away from the gardening and our desks to reflect and talk to people who are doing a similar job to us.  It was also a fabulous lunch, and we really appreciated your hospitality.” “A thoroughly informative and enjoyable day. I’ve attended many similar events over many years, and this was definitely one of the best. Thank you for organising it!