--- title: "Mobilising hope: What charities can learn from HOPE not hate’s rapid-response campaign" date: 2025-12-15T08:53:06Z modified: 2026-03-18T11:12:25Z permalink: "https://forwardaction.uk/blog/mobilising-hope-what-charities-can-learn-from-hope-not-hates-rapid-response-campaign/" type: post status: publish excerpt: "" wpid: 3617 categories: - Blog tags: - Blog - Campaigning - Grow your audience - Strategy featured_image: /wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Sunderland-Central-WOH-.jpeg featured_image_alt: "Two smiling women and two children stand outdoors holding \"Hold on to Hope\" leaflets, posing for a cheerful group photo." timestamp: 2026-03-18T11:12:25Z --- #### How charities and campaigns teams can start 2026 with clarity, courage and a blueprint for rapid response campaigning. > **“Sometimes simplicity cuts through the noise better than anything else.”** When more than 150,000 people filled central London for Britain’s biggest far-right protest in history, it was a moment that could have left many feeling overwhelmed, fearful or powerless. Instead, [HOPE not hate](https://hopenothate.org.uk/), with a two-person digital team, turned that moment into **one of the most significant displays of public unity we’ve seen in some time.** Over just **six weeks**, the digital _Biggest Record of Hope_ and the real-world _Weekend of Hope_ brought together: - **45,391 co-signers** - **33,897 new supporters** - **4,000+ volunteers** - **One million leaflets delivered in 578 constituencies across the UK** It was reactive. It was hopeful. And it worked. So what lessons can we all take from this rapid-response bootstrap campaign? #### **1. Don’t underestimate the power of a simple, hopeful action** > **“Fluffy isn’t a problem. Sometimes, in a world of hate, fluffy is exactly what people need.”** ![A webpage screenshot titled “Biggest Record of Hope Against Hate - Add Your Name.” The page includes explanatory text about countering far-right mobilisation, a sign-up form requesting personal details, and a progress bar showing over 45,000 supporters.](https://forwardaction.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/handraiser-hnh-1.png) ![](https://forwardaction.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/1x1sideofhope-1-1024x1024.png)When the scale of the Unite the Kingdom march became clear, the team launched a simple handraiser inviting people to stand for hope. Chris admitted he worried it might feel too light-touch, **but the public response proved otherwise.** The lesson for 2026: **People don’t need perfection. They need permission to show what they believe in simple terms.** #### **2. Speed matters more than polish** > **“Fast beats perfect, especially when the news cycle moves in minutes.”** ![A collage of HOPE not hate social media adverts. Each ad uses bold yellow-and-black graphics encouraging people to stand for hope. A large red circle overlays the collage with the text “33,000 new subscribers at 37p per subscriber.”](https://forwardaction.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/hnh-ads.png) Within 48 hours, the team launched a full digital mobilisation machine: a handraiser, 42 ad variants, and a rapid messaging framework rooted in hope rather than fear. Participants at our recent webinar asked how HOPE not hate handled negative comments. Their advice: **Moderate lightly, don’t get dragged in, and focus your energy on the supporters who want to act.** #### **3. **Meet people where they are, then move them somewhere deeper**** > ****“A digital action can be the first step in a lifelong journey of activism.”**** ![](https://forwardaction.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Sign-up-1-1024x340.png) The sign up daisy-chain journey was designed to turn clicks into real-world action. We wanted to drive as many sign ups to take part in the Weekend of Hope as we could get, so the daisy chain for most signers was: 1. Sign 2. Take a neighbourhood action 3. Host or join leafleting 4. Donate The result: - **4,000+ volunteer sign-ups** - **One million leaflets** delivered - **157% return on ad spend (cash-only)** over £30,000 raised Some volunteers have now formed ongoing local groups, sharing intel and watching council meetings to monitor newly elected Reform councillors, acting as researchers and message-carriers in their communities. #### **4. Community builds power, and visibility matters** > **“Hope becomes contagious when people can see each other taking action.”** One of the most powerful pieces of content that we used for the campaign was a celebrity video from Jason Flemyng. This came about organically, when the HOPE not hate team called on the long-time supporter of the campaign to help get their message out further. What they created serves as a reminder that visible, positive storytelling attracts people with influence. ![A screenshot of a video where Jason Flemyng is walking down a residential street, filming himself speaking to the camera. Bold yellow text overlays read "Weekend of Hope" and "with our neighbours" is in the captions, in black lettering.](https://forwardaction.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-11-at-16.18.14-1-575x1024.png) ![A screenshot of a video where Jason Flemyng is walking down a residential street, filming himself speaking to the camera. Bold yellow text overlays read "Weekend of Hope" and "hope" is in the captions, in black lettering.](https://forwardaction.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-11-at-16.18.56-1-577x1024.png)And **the most effective content wasn’t high-end production**. It was supporters in the rain, with kids and dogs, delivering leaflets**. Community-led hope looks real, local and achievable.** ![Two smiling women and two children stand outdoors holding "Hold on to Hope" leaflets, posing for a cheerful group photo.](https://forwardaction.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Sunderland-Central-WOH--1024x768.jpeg) ##### **5. To respond rapidly in 2026, you need to prepare now** > **“Rapid response isn’t chaos. It’s preparation meeting opportunity.”** ##### **Our mobilisation playbook for the year ahead includes the following crucial actions:** 1. Know your theory of change 2. Build your tech stack now 3. Agree a rapid sign-off process 4. Don’t overthink the action 5. Keep growing your organic community 6. Prepare for predictable threats **Hope isn’t a mood. It’s an infrastructure.** ![Stacks of yellow-and-black "Hold on to Hope" leaflets spread across a table, while volunteers assemble or sort them.](https://forwardaction.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Gateshead-WOH-7-1-768x1024.jpeg) ![A hand holds several yellow-and-black leaflets reading "Hold on to Hope," with terraced houses blurred in the background.](https://forwardaction.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/posters-1-768x1024.jpeg)#### **6. Why this matters for starting 2026 with hope and power** > **“The far right is organised. But so are millions of people who believe in fairness, inclusion and community.”** The Record of Hope didn’t erase the far right, but it did something more important: **It reminded people they’re not alone.** With political tension rising, the sector needs to offer supporters something they crave: community, clarity and a chance to take meaningful action. As one webinar attendee asked: _“How do we help people feel safe enough to act?”_ Our answer: **Give them community. There is safety in numbers, and give them hope – it’s through showing what’s possible, we can inspire more people to join our causes and fight for change.** ![A young child with long hair and a sparkly jacket walks down a residential pavement holding a bright yellow-and-black poster that says "Hold on to Hope."](https://forwardaction.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/weekend-of-hope-768x1024.jpg) #### **Want help building your rapid response campaigning capacity for 2026?** We’d love to support you with the strategy, tools and journeys to turn moments of concern into moments of mobilisation. [Get in touch](http://forwardaction.uk/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/page/contact.md) ## Topics **Categories:** [Blog](http://forwardaction.uk/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/taxonomy/category/blog.md) **Tags:** [Campaigning](http://forwardaction.uk/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/taxonomy/post_tag/campaigning.md), [Grow your audience](http://forwardaction.uk/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/taxonomy/post_tag/grow-your-audience.md), [Strategy](http://forwardaction.uk/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/taxonomy/post_tag/strategy.md)