A Million Acts of Hope: Making Space celebrates kindness, community and hope across the UK
Published 1 June 2026
Making Space is proud to have been a partner in A Million Acts of Hope, a nationwide campaign celebrating the everyday acts of kindness, care and community taking place across the UK.
The campaign, based our ‘Hope not Hate’ was created to shine a light on the positive moments happening in communities every day and remind people that there is far more that connects us than divides us. Throughout the week, charities, organisations and communities across the country came together to celebrate hope as a powerful alternative to division and negativity.
Making Space was delighted to join tens of thousands of people across the UK - from celebrities including Dame Joanna Lumley and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, to local volunteers, carers, neighbours and community groups - in signing the UK’s biggest ever thank you card to the people who make hope happen. The campaign was even featured in the Daily Mirror, helping spread the message of hope even further.
Across our organisation, colleagues, volunteers, community partners and the people who draw on our support embraced the campaign with creativity, compassion and enthusiasm. From Trees of Hope and sunflower planting to wellbeing walks, arts activities, fundraising events and community gatherings, services across the country found meaningful ways to take part and celebrate hope in action.
Hope in Warrington brings community together
One of the highlights of the week was our Hope in Warrington event, held at Making Space Head Office on Allen Street, Warrington, on 20 May.
The event brought together local people, services, volunteers and community organisations for an afternoon focused on kindness, positivity and community spirit. Visitors enjoyed live music, creative activities, refreshments, stalls and opportunities to reflect on what hope means to them.
Throughout the day, people shared messages on the Hope Wall, with reflections including:
“Just be kind!!”
“There’s always a rainbow after the storm.”
“Spending time with family and friends helps my mental health.”
“I hope that the world will be kinder.”
“Kindness, Happiness, Hope.”
“For everyone to be happy.”
The event featured fantastic performances from the Creating Adventures Bold as Brass band and Beautiful Noise choir. Creating Adventures is a local charity supporting adults with autism and learning disabilities to build confidence and take part in creative and social activities.
There were also craft activities, stalls, refreshments, fundraising activities and community gardening projects, including colleagues from Property Services, Marketing and Co-Production working together to refresh the raised beds outside Lyne House to create a brighter, more welcoming environment for visitors, wildlife and pollinators.
Another special moment came from Walton Lea Partnerships, a Warrington charity providing adults and young people with learning disabilities with work, training and learning opportunities. They attended the event in large numbers and helped spread kindness by sharing beautiful flowers with strangers as an Act of Hope.
Rachel Peacock, CEO of Making Space, said:
We are incredibly proud to have been part of A Million Acts of Hope and to stand alongside so many organisations across the UK celebrating kindness, compassion and community.
At times, it can feel like negativity and division dominate the headlines, but that simply is not the reality I see every day at Making Space. Across our services, teams and communities, I see people supporting one another, showing kindness and creating hope in so many ways.
The campaign felt like a natural reflection of our values at Making Space - Kind Hearts, Tailor Making, Dreaming Big, Having Courage and Being Ready - and the way our colleagues, volunteers and the people who draw on our support live those values every day.
The Hope in Warrington event was such a special day and a wonderful reflection of everything the campaign stands for. It was fantastic to see so many people come together to celebrate positivity, creativity and community spirit.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended and supported the event, especially Creating Adventures whose Bold as Brass band and Beautiful Noise choir performances were absolutely incredible, there were definitely a few wet eyes in the crowd. We are also so grateful to Walton Lea Partnership who attended and brought such warmth, enthusiasm and positivity to the day.
It has also been amazing to see the wide range of activities taking place across Making Space throughout the week. From fundraising and gardening projects to Trees of Hope, wellbeing activities and simple everyday acts of kindness, the campaign has shown just how powerful hope can be.
Creating Adventures also shared their thanks following the event, with Tracey Wood, Community Wellbeing and Life Skills Facilitator, saying:
It was a pleasure to attend the event. The hospitality shown to us was second to none. Making Space kindly prepared goodie bags for our members and even donated percussion instruments to us, which was such a thoughtful gesture. We were also incredibly touched that they are sharing the money raised from the event with us.
What really stood out throughout the day was the kindness and warmth shown by everyone involved. Staff took the time to come over, say hello and make everyone feel genuinely welcome. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make it such a lovely, inclusive and uplifting event.
Walton Lea Partnership reflected on the impact of the day on their Facebook, sharing how their Floristry for Wellbeing, Independent Living and Learner and Community Engagement teams all came together to enjoy a positive and uplifting experience filled with kindness, conversation and community spirit.
Acts of Hope across Making Space
Alongside the Hope in Warrington event, services across Making Space embraced the campaign in many creative ways.
At Swallow Lodge and Cedar House respite services in Lincolnshire, people we support and staff created Trees of Hope, sunflower planting activities and a special “Swallow Lodge Post Office” initiative filled with uplifting messages and encouragement.
At Stockport Connect Hub, people planted sunflowers and created a Tree of Hope as part of activities supporting both A Million Acts of Hope and Mental Health Awareness Week.
Across Doncaster and Rotherham, Sandalwood Dementia Support Day Centre and Rotherham Carers Support created Trees of Hope and heart-filled displays sharing positive messages, encouragement and hopes for the future. Meanwhile in Liverpool, Palmyra embedded hope into everyday life through music, cultural celebrations, wellbeing activities and shared moments of joy.
At Waterhouse Court in Leeds, people expressed hope through arts and crafts in the sunshine, while at Huddersfield Road Young Person Support Service, young people and staff worked together to brighten their balcony space with colourful planters and floral displays for both residents and the wider community.
Our Bradford & Airedale Carer Support Service was also awarded £420 through the Million Acts of Hope Community Grant, helping provide a wellbeing day for unpaid carers including a visit to Cliffe Castle Museum, a walk in the grounds and a shared lunch together.
Meanwhile, our Senior Leadership Team embraced the campaign through their own personal Acts of Hope, from supporting neighbours and donating to charity, to creating kindness challenges and recognising colleagues for the difference they make.
Together, these activities showed that hope does not have to be grand or complicated. Often, it is found in the small everyday moments, a conversation, a helping hand, a shared laugh or simply making someone feel welcome.
And collectively, those moments matter.
#MillionActsofHope