Hope is alive and well and living in cyberspace

The public face of Hope 2008 is now live. Initial feedback on the site has been very encouraging, and already further exciting opportunities for partnership are emerging. Watch this space!

The first film, Fresh Hope, examines aspects of hope, and features 'vox pops' from the public expressing various perspectives on hope. There is a short accompanying film that shows some of those who contributed to the main film, as well as a new poem by Christian slam poet Jude Simpson.

Kick-starting the conversation

"A dialogue not a monologue". That is how the HopeInfo.co.uk project is being described. And to begin the conversation with the public at large about the nature of hope, the agency is writing to 3,000 households across the country living in "Hope Street".

Selected responses will be posted onto the website to start a conversation about what it means to live hopefully. At the same time, the first of five films will go live on the site. Entitled "Fresh Hope" the film explores the theme using a bus journey motif and vox pops shot in a busy central London street.

Creative new content for the public face of Hope'08

On Friday, slam poet Jude Simpson was filmed performing a new poem written especially for HopeInfo.co.uk. The poem is one of several creative new ideas coming online for the public launch on the 1st December.

Life coach Bruce Stanley is also writing new content to help people measure their "hope score" and find ways to develop more hope in their lives through a series of weekly emails.

Filming of 'Fresh Hope' - the first in a series of five films - is complete, and editing is underway, with the film going live on the site in just under three weeks' time.

The Hope we have in us

Monday sees the launch of HopeInfo.co.uk - the public face of HOPE 2008.

This new site, produced for Hope 2008 by the Christian Enquiry Agency in partnership with Church Army, provides a contemporary, contextual public face for what looks set to be the biggest sustained national ecumenical mission initiative ever. Using film and fun, reflections and discussion, the site aims to inform and engage, and enable visitors to explore the theme of HOPE as well as providing clear next steps they can take to "go deeper" with links to rejesus.co.uk, the Christian Enquiry Agency and others.

Monday's launch is the first step in getting the word out to churches, with the site going public on 1st December.