Impact Stories
We drive policy change for climate and nature, from the grassroots. Take a look at some of our work
Supporting more farmers across the UK to engage their MPs on nature friendly farming
Post 2024 general election, we’ve supported farmers in Sevenoaks, Devon and Derbyshire to hold roundtable discussions with their incoming MPs, connecting them to relevant stakeholders, and pushing nature friendly farming higher up their agenda.
We ran an annual programme empowering young people in Merseyside to secure transport related commitments from their decision-makers at the Combined Authority
On 9 July 2025, over 5,000 people and 200 MPs gathered at Westminster for The Climate Coalition’s Act Now, Change Forever Mass Lobby, one of the largest coordinated democratic engagement efforts on climate and nature in recent years. The aim was to ensure constituents from across the UK could meet their MPs face-to-face to raise concerns and call for stronger action on climate and nature.
Hope for the Future’s partnership with Climate Cymru began early in 2026 with an aim to support communities across Wales to engage with politicians ahead of the 2026 Senedd elections.
In 2025, Hope for the Future supported UK Divest, in partnership with Finance Innovation Lab and Platform, to strengthen political engagement around the forthcoming Pensions Reform Bill. The campaign sought to secure commitments to phase out fossil fuel investments from large government-backed pension funds, at a point when climate considerations were largely absent from proposed reforms.
The Climate and Nature Bill (CAN Bill) was backed by tens of thousands of individuals, over 1,600 organisations, scientists and elected representatives. Yet despite widespread public support, the campaign faced a familiar challenge: public backing was not translating into sufficient political support inside Parliament.
Zero Hour approached Hope for the Future to help bridge that gap.
Our role was to equip campaigners with the skills, confidence and political understanding needed to build constructive relationships with MPs and turn grassroots enthusiasm into effective political influence.
Following widespread tree loss caused by Storm Goretti, young people across the Truro Diocese wanted to protect the nature they cared about. While schools had created opportunities for students to meet local leaders, they wanted to ensure those conversations led to meaningful action rather than simply raising awareness.
Nature Neighbourhoods was a UK-wide programme led by the National Trust, RSPB and WWF, with funding and support from the National Lottery Community Fund and Co-op. This project supported communities to take action for nature and climate in their local areas.
While these organisations were already delivering incredible work on the ground, many faced a common challenge: how to navigate local government, build productive relationships with decision-makers and ensure community priorities were reflected in local policies and plans.
That's where Hope for the Future came in.
The UK’s only project designed specifically to bridge the gap between climate and nature democracy, parents on low incomes and parent carers of disabled children. This five-year programme is funded by the National Lottery Climate Action Fund and delivered in partnership with Rea, Contact, Parents for Future and the London School of Economics.
Working alongside Shared Future, and researchers from Keele and Warwick Universities, we integrate advocacy into the assembly process from the outset, helping participants shape politically actionable recommendations, understand who can implement them, and build the confidence to engage decision-makers long after the assembly had finished.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how people access information and make decisions, but little evidence exists on how it can support democratic participation without undermining community voice. Together with the University of Leeds and Kirklees Council, we set out to explore a simple but important question:
Can AI help communities develop stronger, more actionable recommendations for decision-makers?
A major philanthropic initiative, empowering people across society to create a net-zero world
Investing National Lottery funding in community-led projects that strengthen communities, tackle inequality and improve lives across the UK.
A leading independent foundation funding organisations working to restore nature, create a fairer society and build stronger communities.
An independent Quaker-founded grant-maker supporting organisations tackling the root causes of injustice, inequality and the climate crisis.
A Quaker-based family trust funding charities working for environmental sustainability, peace, social justice and positive social change.
A family foundation investing in long-term partnerships to create fairer communities through better homes, inclusive education and nature-rich neighbourhoods.
A trust supporting organisations that help socially and economically disadvantaged people, including refugees, survivors of trafficking and people in prison.
See more of our impact
Our training and support to people to engage in effective and constructive conversations with their local politicians on climate and nature is really making a difference.
Our new strategy is built on a simple but powerful idea: real change happens when communities and politicians work together.
We believe that the diversity of our society should be reflected in our staff team. To bring diverse voices into our organisation, we want to ensure that everyone feels welcome but also has an equal opportunity to get in the door.
Did you know we’re a registered Environmental Partner of 1% for the Planet? Consider us for your next 1% for the planet donation.
