Moments of Hope
Rebecca, our Fundraising and Communications Manager, wrote on ‘Moments of Hope’ for our e-letter:
I recently learnt about the value of 'weak-tie' relationships. Weak-tie relationships are our casual acquaintances - people we barely know and who we don't count as friends. But, surprisingly, 'weak-tie' relationships are vital for our wellbeing.
A psychology student, Gillian Sandstrom, discovered that people with larger networks of weak ties tended to be happier overall, and that 'on days when a participant had a greater number of casual interactions with weak ties – say, a local barista, a neighbour, a member of yoga class – they experienced more happiness and a greater sense of belonging."
Who are your 'weak-tie relationships'? I've been asking myself this question and for me, it's the welcoming and chatty couple in my local post office and pharmacy, it's some of the parents and grandparents at the school drop-off, it's the receptionist at swimming pool.
But what happens when you don't have any 'weak-tie relationships' because you are marginalised and disenfranchised? Or, worse still, your only interactions with people are negative?
You are on the edges of society and community - looking in but not included.
Micky, who told us some of his story for the Christmas appeal, described how, when he was sleeping rough, people spat at him, told him to 'get a job', threw things at him, and sometimes tried to assault him.
And I recently heard about someone supported by our Tenancy Sustainment Team; a woman who fled domestic violence with her children and has been housed in temporary accommodation in Three Rivers. She's far from home and knows no one at all.
In my role, I have the privilege of visiting all of New Hope different's services and seeing what I call 'moments of hope'. Often, these moments, are brief, positive interactions between a service user and a volunteer or staff member but as I have learnt, these interactions, however fleeting, are crucial in building well-being, trust, relationships, and community.
A man at the Haven drop-in engaged in a game of chess with Ian, the manager of Cultivate (our horticultural therapy and wellbeing service).
A man, who fled his homeland and is now a refugee, visits the Tenancy Sustainment Team offices for some tenancy support and then, for the first time ever, talks about his previous home, as he pets a staff member's dog.
A man, who has been sleeping rough for many years, feels able to come to the Haven and has a coffee while chatting to the team there.
A new dining area created by the staff at New Hope House transforms meal times. The residents are now eating together every evening, growing in friendship and mutual support.
A text from Sarah, our chaplain, to a person staying in the Sanctuary Emergency Accommodation reminds them they are not alone and that she is praying for them.
A man cries because his laundry is returned, neatly folded, having been washed by the team at the Haven.
Moments of Hope.
Our days at New Hope are made up of thousands of 'Moments of Hope' - small moments of positive interactions showing how each person, no matter what they have done or has been done to them, is intrinsically valuable. These moments don't make the headlines but day-by-day, little-by-little, moments of hope create transformed lives.
