An innovative community project working with bereaved children has been awarded the Spring Harvest Faithworks Award 2003. ‘Richmond’s Hope’, which serves the Craigmillar area of Edinburgh, received the award for its innovative faith-inspired response to a striking need within the local community.

A project of Richmond Craigmillar Church, ‘Richmond’s Hope’ provides support for young children who have been deeply affected by traumatic bereavement. In doing so, it offers practical and professional hope to a deprived area that also struggles with high substance abuse, suicide and mortality rates. ‘Richmond’s Hope’ began its work in Craigmillar following a series of tragic deaths that shook the community and left many local children struggling to cope with their loss. The project now runs the UK’s only child bereavement centre open every week of the year.

A panel of judges for the award chose ‘Richmond’s Hope’ from a short-list of 13 projects, which was created from over 200 applicants with a combined turnover of £23.5m. The Spring Harvest Faithworks Award consists of a £10,000 development grant from Christian charity Spring Harvest and ongoing strategic support from Christian movement Faithworks. It aims to recognise and reward the excellent work currently being carried out by over 144,000 faith-based community projects.

The Rt. Revd. Peter Broadbent, the Bishop of Willesden and member of the Spring Harvest leadership team, was on hand to present the award to ‘Richmond’s Hope’ during a ceremony held in Westminster Palace on Monday (October 13th). Faithworks Founding Director Steve Chalke, U.S. Christian leader Jim Wallis and Lord David Alton of Liverpool were present at the ceremony and joined Bishop Broadbent in praising the work of the winning project.

“The work of ‘Richmond’s Hope’ should serve as a reminder to all churches that their faith has the power to transform peoples lives and circumstances.”
Lord David Alton of Liverpool

	“The Church contributes on a huge scale to the delivery of essential welfare services across the UK. ‘Richmond’s Hope’ is an example of one such initiative.  It’s great that today we can pat them on the back and cheer them on by giving them the Spring Harvest Faithworks Award.”Rt. Revd. Peter Broadbent Bishop of Willesden

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