“To promote the use of creative spaces designed to improve a child’s physical, emotional and psychological well-being in communities where access to these resources is otherwise limited.” Raising Hope and Joy, 19th October 2013
Joy and Helen, Hope Home 2013, Thailand
Raising Hope and Joy is a new, unregistered, charity – we’re starting small but aiming high. Our purpose is to provide creative spaces for children, such as art spaces and sensory rooms, where resources are otherwise limited. We will target communities where there is financial hardship or unemployment, poor education or lack of skills, relationship or family breakdown, or poor housing. There will be focus on people suffering discrimination on the grounds of gender, ethnic origin, disability, religion or sexual orientation.
Raising Hope and Joy is dedicated to ensuring inspirational ideas turn into reality. We have a board of trustees and a legal constitution to ensure funds are well spent. We want you to be able to see what your money does. This website will be one source of information, blogging every step of the way. There is also a dedicated website in the works at www.raisinghopeandjoy.org. This communication is very important to us since any hope and joy raised will be because of you.
Hope Home 2013, mural by Art Relief International (ARI), Cultural canvas
The inspiration for this charity followed my volunteer work in North Thailand, August 2013. I came into contact with ‘Hope Home’, founded in 2007 by Judy Cook, a missionary nurse from the UK. The moment I walked into Hope Home I felt myself returning to my roots. To the hopes and aspirations of my teenage years, volunteering at an art studio in a converted garage for adults who had learning disabilities and mental health difficulties. Since then I have dedicated myself to working with children and adults with learning disabilities, later qualifying as an Art therapist and expanding my work within the field of child mental health. Creating the charity Raising Hope and Joy is the next step on this journey.
Helen painting the bedroom wall, a project with Sarah Turner at Hope Home as part of ARI, Cultural Canvas, Thailand
Hope Home will be the first project for Raising Hope and Joy. We will provide the resources to build a sensory room, transforming a space with colour, pictures, textures and sensory objects. We will use lighting and sound within this creative space to enable children to develop and learn. We provide the know-how to create the space and organise the volunteers. Paying for the equipment to furnish the room requires your support.
Sarah with Yoot, Hope Home 2013
Our hope is that working alongside existing organisations means a little extra funding, inspiration and expertise will enhance already existing projects. We know that no amount of funding can change the world, for that is about attitudes and politics. What it can do is give a little extra hope to communities, and the joy of creativity that every child deserves.
Raising Hope and Joy was founded on the 19th Oct 2013 in memory of Joan Knee who dedicated her life to children.