Happy New Year: What makes us hopeful for 2026?

Despite the cold weather and dark mornings, we’re feeling incredibly hopeful for this year because of you.

We know your hope will continue to shine throughout this year. That we will come together as one community with the same belief – a better world needs all of us. It needs you, our local experts, the communities you support, our staff and good neighbours just like you here in the UK. Together, we are making change happen so every family can thrive.

So, as we step into 2026, how can we keep our hope alive?

This Lent, we will be praying, fasting and giving alms to help us grow closer to God. It’s a time to share with our neighbours and walk with those overcoming poverty and injustice.

You can connect with your faith while helping your sisters and brothers on the Big Lent Walk. Thousands of people are walking 200km over 40 days. This means you can walk where and when you like. You can count every step – the school runs, commute to work or the stroll to your parish! As you walk over Lent, you are helping life-changing projects like helping families who need safe drinking water.

Many families around the world walk hours a day to find water to drink. In Ethiopia, Mortikana, 70, was walking an exhausting six hours a day to fetch water. Thanks to sponsorships like the ones you raise through the Big Lent Walk, our local experts worked with her community to install a water tank in her village.

You can walk with women like Morikana this Lent. It’s a chance to really make a difference while taking time to reflect and pray on your walks. Because with each step and each penny raised, we are committing to a better world in 2026.

Take the first step today!