First conceived in October 2024, River Hope is a community participatory process in an embryonic state of emergence. So far it receives no funding, is not an established organisation and has no set framework or rigid timeline. But it does have hope, imagination, creativity and goodwill! This seems a solid place to start, with potential to grow in action and make positive progress.
How River Hope develops will be like ripples in the water. So we call our participatory meetings First Ripples sessions. Here, participants bring their ideas which then, like pebbles dropped into a pond, create a series of expanding waves of influence, further thoughts, discussions and innovations among us and flowing out to others in our communities. We imagine a chain reaction of creative thinking and collaboration within our community around our three themes of love through the senses, memory of place and heritage, and being good stewards and future ancestors.
River Hope convenes First Ripples sessions on the second Saturdays and Wednesdays of every month – see Events.
Everyone living within the wider catchments of our three rivers (Arrow, Avon and Stour) and their tributaries in Stratford-on-Avon District is most welcome to join us. Those living outside the District can also connect with us in different ways, so please get in touch.