In a time of polarisation and division, the Guardian’s 2025 charity appeal has focused on inspiring grassroots voluntary projects that encourage community pride, tolerance and unity. The appeal, which closes this week, has raised over £900,000 for five partner charities working to bring people together and restore hope.
One of the initiatives supported by the appeal is The Linking Network, a project that pairs schools so that pupils from different faiths, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds can meet, share stories and discover what they have in common. “When they meet, share stories and learn together, they build empathy and understanding that lasts a lifetime,” say the project’s co-directors Linda Cowie and Meg Grant.
The appeal has also supported Citizen UK, a charity that has brought people together to campaign for positive change in their communities, from better mental health services to cheaper bus fares. “The appeal reminded us civil society must roll up its sleeves and model the kind of politics we want to see; listening to those we disagree with, seeking common ground, and working towards a shared common good,” says Pete Brierley of Citizen UK.
Another beneficiary is the Salaam Shalom Kitchen, a joint Muslim-Jewish charity in Nottingham that brings together people “of different faith and no faith” over shared meals. Even tensions over the conflict in Gaza have not disrupted its progress, as trustee Sajid Mohammed explains: “We’ve got so much more in common than what divides us.”
The appeal has also supported the 174 Trust’s “Circle of Change” scheme in Belfast, which connects strangers from different backgrounds, enabling them to get to know each other, undo preconceptions and find common ground. “It restored my hope. It humanised us all,” project participant Maureen Hamblin told the Guardian.
The final beneficiary is Who Is Your Neighbour?, a charity that runs dialogues with local communities, encouraging curiosity, finding common ground, breaking down stereotypes and enabling people to talk calmly about issues and grievances. As ex-forces veteran Ali discovered, these conversations can make unexpected connections, even in the face of racial abuse.
With the appeal closing this week, the Guardian’s £1 million target is within reach. These inspiring grassroots initiatives show how community-led projects can bring people together, challenge division and restore hope, even in the most challenging of times.
