What does hope mean to you? For Roisin Mc Laughlin, Manager of North West Community Network and Marie Dunne the Director of RESILIO, hope embodies a spirit of collaboration, and unity and is evident in the number of groups who have come on board to support a new initiative which sees Derry and Strabane District Council embark on a journey towards becoming the first ever District of Hope.

"Making Hope Happen" is a partnership initiative with RESILIO and North West Community Network and has been endorsed by the Mayor. Hopelessness is one of the prime predictors for poor mental health and sadly suicide, and hope is needed more than ever. At Developing Healthy Communities we are proud to support this movement.

So what do they have planned? On 27 April they are running a HOPE Human Library at 1pm in the Guildhall. Everyone is welcome to attend. 

The Mayor said “I am delighted to support this initiative. We would encourage everyone to support the first HOPE event on Saturday 27 April in the Guildhall. This dynamic initiative is a testament to our commitment to fostering a culture of optimism, resilience, and progress within our communities and beyond.”

Marie adds: “Through the collective efforts of RESILIO, North West Community Network, and supported by National Lottery Community Fund, we plan to make a lasting impact on our community by fostering a culture of hope and resilience. As we embark on this collective journey we reaffirm our commitment to build a community where hope is not just a concept but a lived reality and together we have the power to uplift, inspire and transform lives."