Stories of Hope

In this story of hope, we celebrate making it to 100 stories of hope and share what hope looks like to Anne Buckland. In essence, hope looks like the journey of this podcast. 24 hours ago we weren’t even sure that it was going to be possible, but we closed the 4th day by recording the 100th episode.

In this story of hope, Anne Buckland shared what hope means to her - it’s the ‘what if’ in a situation. She also shares the story of how hope has kept her going, amidst starting a business and wanting to use comms for change.

In this story of hope, Joel Buckland, CEO of We Do Stories, shares what hope looks like to him, and a couple of stories from his youth, where a community rallied around a family, to see them have a better future, and also a fight was changed thanks to the bold hope brought by a friend.

In this story of hope, Joel Buckland, CEO We Do Stories, shares what hope looks like to him. To Joel, hope is inextricably tied into action. As we hope for something different - hope is a force for action.

In this story of hope, Michael Pocock, an ecological scientist, shares his hopes for the environment, and also the hope that can be found in nature. He also shares how his faith helps him to appreciate the world around us.

This story of hope from Helen Holyer shows a hope that was found in frustration, and how she and her partner Steve worked hard to solve that frustration. The creation of Easy Accessibility brought together in the hope that it would help build a more accessible world for many

In this story of hope, comms manager of Urban Saints, Paul Windo, shares his thoughts on what hope looks like, and believes that hope often comes when someone is fully committed to change. He uses the story of Know the Origin, and the experience of watching its founder, Charlotte, build the company on a fully focussed commitment to use what she had in her hands for good.

In this story of hope, Paul Windo, comms manager for Urban Saints, shares his thoughts on what hope is, and how hope is so often found in youth. He shares the inspirational story of Marcus Rashford and his commitment to using his platform for a purpose.

In this story of hope, Maha Mansour, neonate consultant shares some thoughts on Easter Saturday, and why it was that day that required the most hope of all. Today is Easter Sunday for the Coptic church, and it’s got her thinking afresh about what the Easter story means to her. Due to editing time - this story has been aired slightly later in the journey

In this story of hope, Maha Mansour, neonate consultant, shares about how her parents were a beacon of hope to her and modelled out what hope looked like, despite having to move country quickly as a family a number of times. Due to editing time - this story has been aired slightly later in the journey

In this story of hope, Maha Mansour, neonate consultant, shares her thoughts on hope, and also the times in life where she’s felt in a dark tunnel and the things that helped to bring her out. Due to editing time - this story has been aired slightly later in the journey

In this story of hope, Maha Mansour, neonate consultant shares her thoughts on what hope means, and how her faith gives her a rock to stand on through many difficult situations. Due to editing time - this story has been aired slightly later in the journey

In this story of hope, Adrian Sutton shares how hope often looks like seeing another way through a problem, and how hope needs encouragers. But not just any encouragers, for hope to thrive, hope needs encouragers who will encourage someone to approach a situation in their own way, and not just a carbon copy of the other person.

In this story of hope, Adrian Sutton shares his insight into what hope feels like, and also why hope needs fairness to fully thrive. As a retired teacher, he was very familiar with trying to remove obstacles for learning for students, and one student in particular sticks in his mind who, due to undiagnosed Dyslexia, needed some additional exam support to ensure that the grading was fair.

In this story of hope, we hear from the Daily Dose of Mercy, and the hope that can be brought by helping someone practically.

In this story of hope, Marcel Green shares how he has been able to pivot in the pain of battling an autoimmune disease, and how new paths are opening up that he felt had long since been closed. Unable to continue any more with his chosen career, Marcel is able to again pursue a career in creativity - one that he’d long since thought closed to him.

In this story of hope, Marcel Green shares how he found hope again, emerging from a toxic relationship. He shares how he found the strength to break free and start again on his own. It wasn’t long before a chance meeting fanned the fledgeling sparks of hope, into flames.

In this story of hope, Marcel Green shares his experience of finding hope in a dream fulfilled, in getting married in Barbados. His wedding plans were progressing in one direction, and then an appearance on Deal Or No Deal meant that there was a way of having the wedding of their dreams. It goes to show that a chance event has the potential to change everything. Not only his marriage but also his career.

In this story of hope, Marcel Green shares his experiences of finding hope amidst battling an autoimmune disease. He shares how the journey has led him to discover hope in his Christian faith afresh, and how the support of his family has been vital at this time. He shares that the hope often comes too in the kind words of strangers.

In this story of hope, Dawn Goodwin, Programmes director, Mozambique at World Vision, shares her experience from training to take part in marathons and Iron Man challenges. How does she approach the training?  By not despising the small beginnings. Sometimes the hardest step is just getting out of bed.

In this story of hope, Dawn Goodwin, Programmes director, Mozambique at World Vision, shares her inspiration for keeping going from her first Iron Man. It would have been possible to have just stopped, and enjoyed the shade of a tree. It would have been possible, but, a small voice encouraged her to keep going, one foot in front of the other.

In this story of hope, Dawn Goodwin, Programmes director, Mozambique at World Vision, shares how hope rises, when people chose to look at what’s around them and adapt. If something you were expecting doesn’t come along exactly as you’d hoped - has it come along in a different form?

In this story of hope, Dawn Goodwin, Programmes director, Mozambique at World Vision, shares what hope can look like, and where hope can be found, even in the midst of some incredibly difficult surroundings.

In this story of hope, Dawn Goodwin, Programmes director, Mozambique at World Vision, shares what hope means to her, and how she found the strength to keep going, after the death of her father.

A story of hope from the Daily Dose of Mercy reminds us that we can’t help everyone, but we can help someone.

In this story of hope, Jitze Kramer, VP of Global Brand for Mercy Ships, shares two inspiring stories that have stuck with him, of men freed from sizable facial tumours. Men who didn’t give up hoping that they may be able to access the surgery they needed.

In this story of hope, Jitze Kramer, VP of Global Brand for Mercy Ships, unpacks a little of the meaning of hope behind Mercy Ships phrase ‘hope and healing’ - exploring what hope looks like from both a volunteer’s perspective and also a patient.

In this story of hope, Jitze Kramer, VP of Global Brand for Mercy Ships, shares his thoughts on hope, and also his experience of witnessing a mother’s constant hope in the story of Gamai, a young girl who suffered terrible burns when a pot of boiling water fell on her as a child.

In this story of hope, Gareth McNab, Director of External Affairs from Christians Against Poverty (CAP) shares what his hope is from. He shares his own testimony of when he felt like there was nothing for him left, and started plans to take his own life, when a still small voice made him hold on; taking him on a journey of faith and restoration.

In this story of hope, Gareth McNab, Director of External Affairs from Christians Against Poverty (CAP) shares his insight into what hope looks like, and shares the inspirational story of John Kirkby, founder of CAP.

In this story of hope, Gareth McNab, Director of External Affairs from Christians Against Poverty (CAP) shares what hope means to him, and the inspiration he takes from the life of William Wilberforce. He shares some great insight, including the challenge - if we’re aiming at something that’s big enough for us to achieve by ourselves then we’re not aiming high enough.

In this story of hope, Frank Stephenson of TWR shares the inspiration of hope that can be found in the life of Corrie Ten Boom, and some of the stories that epitomise hope from her autobiography, The Hiding Place.

In this story of hope, Frank Stephenson of TWR shares the role that media can play as a platform for bringing hope to people, particularly within isolation. The fact that the pandemic has put many more people into isolation due to lockdowns, means that sharing hope-filled stories through media has never been so important.

In this story of hope, Frank Stephenson of TWR shares how his grandfather, at 82, became a Christian after hearing the story of Corrie Ten Boom. He had heard about the faith throughout his life, but there was something in the story of Corrie Ten Boom that made him see it in the light of fresh hope.

In this story of hope, Frank Stephenson of TWR shares his thoughts on what hope means, and also how he was able to, through his faith, cling to hope when his mother was unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer in 2004.

In this story of hope, Laura Yates, founder of Hilltop Hypnotherapy shares her own experiences of finding a well of strength for difficult times in the stories of others. When Laura was told that she’d have a 1% chance of walking again, she held onto hope through Christopher Reeve’s autobiography, someone who had gone through the same injury that she’d experienced.

In this story of hope, Laura Yates, founder of Hilltop Hypnotherapy, shares some of the tips she has for holding onto hope, and the importance of reaching out to others if you’re in a difficult place. She also shares some tips of how we can help others, including always asking twice how someone is.

In this story of hope, Laura Yates, founder of Hilltop Hypnotherapy, shares her inspiration of finding hope and holding onto the spark of hope, however faint it may be.

In this story of hope, Laura Yates, founder of Hilltop Hypnotherapy, shares what hope means to her, and also her experience of holding on to the spark of hope, after having a car crash at 18 years old that left her with significant damage to her spine. She was told that she was unlikely to walk again, and would not be able to have children. Now as a mum of two, she reflects on what it was that kept her going.

In this story of hope, Christine Brown, Communities Manager at Mercy Ships, shares some insight from the work that she does with schools, and seeing children react and respond to hearing the stories of Mercy Ships impact. She shares how much hope can come when they hear of children having their lives changed, and how it drives many on to want to be the difference in their own lives.

In this story of hope, Christine Brown, Communities Manager at Mercy Ships, shares how she and her family held onto hope when her mother had a very unexpected heart attack in an airport. She also shares some inspiration of the people who helped her - and continuing the theme of the last podcast, shares how it was the hospital staff, and particularly a cleaner, that gave her hope to keep going in the early days.

In this story of hope, Christine Brown, Communities Manager at Mercy Ships, shares some of her stories of her time serving with Mercy Ships, and witnessing the hope rising in patients faces as they walked up the gangway - 40 steps - as their hope became tangible, knowing that surgery would be provided. She also explores how everyone has a vital role to play, including the jobs it’s easy to take for granted.

In this story of hope, Christine Brown, Communities Manager at Mercy Ships, shares how she’s found hope in the pandemic, through the community groups that have sprung up online, and the community spirit in her town. She shares her hope that this community spirit will continue after lockdown eases.

40 podcasts to go, minus one now. This story of hope is a story of the challenge itself. The challenge has got a bit tricky, all due to outside factors beyond our control, so this podcast is one to invite you into the journey. We hope that we’re going to make the 100 stories in 4 days, and we hope that you’ll enjoy the journey today as we try.

It’s coming to the end of day 3, and a number of things have not gone to plan. Ironically battling a sense of seeking hope, amidst this challenge. Anne shares a few thoughts and updates of seeking hope to keep going, and a pertinent story from the Daily Dose of Mercy

In this story of hope, Polis Loizou, author, shares how he found hope in people restored when he went through a reading of a particular vulnerable and personal subject.

In this story of hope, Polis Loizou, author, shares some inspiration about hope looking to folklore and mythology and shares a very special Japanese story of ‘the boy who draws cats’ - a source of hope for many.

In this story of hope, Polis Loizou, author, shares his thought that hope sometimes looks like the promise that you see in young animals or children. He shares some of the hope that he’s needed to hold onto when hoping for a family with his husband.

In this story of hope, Polis Loizou, Author, shares what hope means to him, and a very special story of long lost photographs eventually returned. He also shares his hopes for the future of Cyprus, his motherland.

In this story of hope, garden guru Mark Lane shares what feels like to him. The same feeling in his arms that he felt in the hospital when he knew that he had to try to sit up in the aftermath of recovery from his accident. The feeling that spurs on to action.