Hope4❤️

We just want Daddy home 😔 We’re still in Ukraine, delivering aid to desperate families, still hearing heartbreaking stories of loss and separation 😒 Take these precious children, in the middle of nowhere, a wife missing her husband, children missing their dad, neither heard from him for x2 months! 💔 The crushing sense of despair knawing at any remaining hope they have, their life on pause until they hear news, defiantly refusing to believe the worst! The incalculable reality for families across Ukraine, our red jackets punctuating the gloom, the cold, and the despair! 🙏 My life is one of bizarre extremes, my perspective changed forever! We’ll soon be heading back over the border, our safety and security demanding our location remains confidential for now! Thank you everyone for your kind messages of love and support - together #WeAreHope4

On our way to Ukraine.. In what will be our last trip to Ukraine this year, Ivan Ivancev, our colleague Inga and myself are heading back across the border to bring more hope amid escalating aggression! Yes it’s risky, but it’s worth it when you see what it means to the beleaguered people of Ukraine, who continue to suffer the most unimaginable conditions! In the latest twist, Ru$$ia is once again weaponising energy supplies, with now regular blackouts , particularly during cold nights! Not only are we attending a special children’s event tonight, but we will be assessing conditions for the most vulnerable, crushed under the weight of poverty and conflict! It’s not possible to tell you which region we’re heading to today, with evidence suggesting that the Ru$$ian military are targeting us each time we go in, my last trip almost costing us our lives! We are grateful to everyone who has stood with us throughout 2024, especially those who have recently donated money for wood, which will literally make the difference between life and death! Together #WeAreHope4 Ukraine 🇺🇦

What do you grab when you’re in a room full of children with special needs? Tissues. Lots and lots of tissues 😌 Yesterday, we visited a centre for children with special needs and were greeted by no less than 70 incredible children, all singing their hearts out with unspeakable joy and passion. I’m not ashamed to say it - I cried. 😭 We were joined by former Paralympic Judo champion Oleg Cretul, who sponsors this extraordinary school. Despite being underfunded, the school achieves remarkable things for these precious children, and we're determined to join Oleg's efforts to see how we can encourage and support them too. Honestly, my life is one of perpetual perspective, a journey where I witness the very best and the very worst of the human condition. From luxury to utter despair, it’s moments like these that overwhelm me and remind me of what truly matters. These incredible, happy children teach us invaluable lessons: To find contentment in simplicity. To pause and see the world through a child’s eyes, filled with wonder and curiosity. Despite their challenges and lack of resources, they sing, and when they sing, the whole world sings with them. During our visit, we handed out clothing generously donated by our amazing friends at Goods For Good, which included UNIQLO's thermal HEATTECH range, as well as food provided by Bidfood UK. Even the smallest gesture, like giving them our Hope4❤️ pins, was met with a level of gratitude that was deeply humbling. This emotional visit has left me with an overwhelming sense of gratitude, for these resilient children, for the dedicated staff at the school, and for every incredible person who supports us, making what we do possible. And I urge you, as you spend time with your families and celebrate the festivities, surrounded by what for most would be unimaginable luxury, just pause and breathe in, and appreciate all that you've worked hard to achieve. With love and immense gratitude, the Hope4 Moldova team ❤️ Together, #WeAreHope4 ❤️

What Makes Hope4❤️ Special? In a truly extraordinary video presented by our very own Ivan Ivancev, we showcase everything that makes Hope4 unique and inspiring. But what makes us truly special? It’s you! This incredible production will take pride of place on our brand-new website, launching in just a few days, thanks to the creative genius of Trudie Avery. Today, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who makes what we do possible: ❤️ Our esteemed Board of Directors for their vision, support and leadership. ❤️ My amazing Hope4 Moldova team, who work tirelessly on the ground in Moldova, Ukraine and now UK. ❤️ Our life-changing partners, whose support helps us reach further. ❤️ And of course, every single one of you, our incredible supporters. Each of you plays a vital role in making Hope4 the success it is, enabling us to reach into some of the darkest, most desperate situations and bring hope, life, and transformation. Together #WeAreHope4 Bound by Culture | Supported by Business | Driven by Love Thank you, each and every one of you. To stand with us, please head over to the link below and connect directly with your own impact, in real-time, in real-life #impact #hope #hope4 https://lnkd.in/dfwdeVEe

**Content Warning** I've been so reluctant to share this post, but the sad and tragic reality is, this is life in Europe's poorest country. Setting aside opinions, and the obvious need for education and birth control, particularly amongst Moldova's poorest communities, precious children are suffering under the indiscriminate weight of extreme poverty. Over the weekend, my beautiful wife Zoe Lomas and I were called to a house where a 2 month old baby had succumb to the desperate conditions his parents find themselves in, a victim of happen-chance, being born in a country without adequate social care to prevent unnecessary deaths. This post isn't to make anyone feel bad, it's simply to reveal the challenges Hope4 Moldova finds itself in, when tackling with every day issues the people of Moldova, as well as the temporarily displaced Ukrainians find themselves in. Whilst it was obviously too late for this precious baby, Nigel Williams of Afford A Print Limited immediately stepped in offering his company's support, and buying sufficient wood to last them the winter. Nigel has been a long-time supporter of ours, and was one of the founding members of our 52 Club, this precious family now firmly within our sights, our motivation to protect the other children living in the house. On hearing the news of this baby's passing, I was inconsolable, the painful truth it could have some how been avoided, a renewed determination, to reach as many desperate families as we possibly can. And so, thank you to everyone who extends our reach into the most unimaginable circumstances, bringing hope where before none existed. Together #WeAreHope4

The Humility of a Champion… On the left of this picture is Christian - a humble young man who once swept the streets of London before rising to become a kickboxing champion. His victor’s crown, proudly displayed below, symbolises more than just a title; it represents hard work, resilience, and determination. Christian’s story is remarkable. A “nobody” in the eyes of many, he worked tirelessly, both inside and outside the ring, to achieve his dream. And look at him now. By day, Christian serves as a firefighter, saving lives and protecting his community. By night, he dedicates his time and passion to helping young people in the village of Tohatin chase their dreams, just as he did. He’s not proud or arrogant. He’s humble, grateful, and committed to creating opportunities for others. Returning with more gifts made possible by our precious friend Rosalind Bluestone MBE and the amazing team at Goods For Good, we witnessed something extraordinary, the sheer gratitude on the faces of these boys and (one) girl, who are striving to become champions themselves. It was truly humbling. Supporting young athletes is such an important part of what we do. I was honoured to stand alongside my friends and colleagues Ivan Ivancev, Julia Dinisiuk, and Inga Fordea as we encouraged these incredible children to aim-high, and dream big, and believe that anything is possible. Christian’s journey is yet another powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we work together. Let’s keep inspiring the next generation of champions, on and off the field. Much of what we do is only possible because of extraordinary people and businesses across this community, like Goods for Good, and so if you'd like to support them, then please head over to the link below. Together #WeAreHope4 young athletes #Kickboxing #Sport #DreamBig

Bidfood UK - one of the founding pillars of support that has underpinned our work since 2021. Last week we received yet another shipment of life-saving food from our friends Andrew Selley, Jim Gouldie and Louise Lyle, along with their incredible suppliers. Already this food has made it to desperate families, struggling under the burden of winter bills and the escalating cost of living, across what is still Europe's poorest country. Being kind is good for business, and like so many others, Bidcorp UK have proved over and over again, just how compassionate they are. We are grateful to Andrew, Jim and their entire team who made this delivery possible, even at a time when there is so much uncertainty across the Foodservice industry, particularly as a result of the recent budget. See, when customers are choosing which business to work with, you'd better be sure, social responsibility is right up there, which proves, it's good business to be kind. And once again, the incredible people and businesses across this platform prove over and over again, what a force for good our LinkedIn family are. Together #WeAreHope4 If you'd like to get involved, please head over to the link below, particularly as we face an uncertain winter 🙏 #winterappeal #foodservice #kindness

A Day in the Life of Hope4 Moldova Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work with Hope4❤️ We’re far from being a drop-and-go organisation. Our approach is deeply personal - we spend time with families to truly understand their greatest needs and challenges. Behind every tragic door, there are real and remarkable people. Their only misfortune? Being born into a country burdened by extreme poverty. Take this wonderful mum of three, for example. She manages to provide a clean, loving home and raise happy children, all while surviving on just £128 a month. At Hope4, we do more than deliver aid. We listen, we care, we love, and we remind these courageous individuals that they are not alone. Thanks to the incredible support of Rosalind Bluestone MBE and Goods For Good, along with Maria Samoto le Dous and her amazing colleagues at UNIQLO, we were able to deliver HEATTECH clothing, food, and emotional support to this family and many others. Your generosity and support makes this possible - together #WeAreHope4 #hope #charity #impact

This is the power of the 52 Club. It’s about direct, transparent, life-changing impact. No more “give-and-hope,” wondering if your contribution is lost in a sea of overheads and inflated salaries, in fact, our CEO Chris ❤️ Lomas don't even pay himself a salary. At Hope4❤️ every penny goes right where it’s needed, giving you the confidence that your hard-earned support is changing lives in the most tangible way possible. We’re not bogged down by bureaucracy; we’re a lean, driven, and highly effective team determined to create lasting change for some of Europe’s poorest families. If you want front-row seats on how your support is radically transforming lives, let’s talk. With just £52 per month, we can support 52 families over 52 weeks, transporting them from utter despair to incredible hope. This year, the greatest gift you can ever give is hope - together #WeAreHope4❤️ #52club

Yesterday Chris Lomas visited Fishers Adventure Farm Park to collect more than 1,000 winter coats for children across Moldova ❤️ Colossal thanks to Katie Rollings and her amazing team for organising this month long collection which will soon be on its way to Hope4❤️ The impact on desperately poor children simply cannot be overstated, with far too many without the necessary clothing to endure Moldova’s harsh winters where temperatures can get to as low as minus 15 degrees 🥶 There simply aren’t any words to express our deepest gratitude for all of Katie’s incredible friends and customers! On behalf of everyone on the Hope4❤️ team and every single child who’ll receive one of these coats, thank you 🙏 Together #WeAreHope4 ❤️❤️