Powered by Hope contributors

We're excited to bring you thinkers, theologians and campaigners as we delve into the power of hope.

Ruth Valerio

Dr Ruth Valerio’s vision is to inspire and equip people to a whole-life response to environmental breakdown and poverty, helping build a movement that brings about lasting change for a flourishing world. She holds a doctorate in theology and has led advocacy at A Rocha UK (where she spearheaded Eco Church) and Tearfund. She is currently Programmes, Partnerships and Advocacy Director at Embrace Middle East. 

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Dr Ruth Valerio stands in front of a giant globe. She has her arms folded across her front and is wearing a purple top. Credit: Ruth Valerio
Dr Ruth Valerio stands in front of a giant globe. She has her arms folded across her front and is wearing a purple top.

Sarah P Corbett

Sarah P Corbett is an award-winning activist, author and Ashoka Fellow. She was born in Everton, the fourth most deprived ward in the UK and was an Activism Manager at Oxfam GB before founding the global Craftivist Collective in 2009. Corbett calls her unique methodology ‘Gentle Protest’ and her work has helped change hearts, minds, policies and laws around the world. Collaborations include Girl Guiding, Lush, Scouts, The Climate Coalition, Fashion Revolution, Tate, V&A, British Museum and Secret Cinema amongst others. The Craftivist Collective Handbook was awarded best multimedia book of 2025 by The Creative Book Awards. 

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Sarah Corbett stands to the left of the picture, she has long brown hair and is wearing glasses, a white shirt and navy blue apron. She is smiling. Credit: Sarah Corbett
Sarah Corbett stands to the left of the picture, she has long brown hair and is wearing glasses, a white shirt and navy blue apron. She is smiling.

Melanie Nazareth

Melanie Nazareth is the Churches Project Officer at Green Christian and part of the Christian Climate Action team. She also works part time as family lawyer. Earlier this year she spent three months with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel. These different threads are united in a passionate belief that we are called to be channels of God’s love, and that everyone has the power to do something to bring about change.

 

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Melanie Nazareth stands on a busy street and looks direct to camera. She is wearing a blue knitted jumper and a blue collared shirt. Credit: Amy Sheppy/Christian Aid
Melanie Nazareth stands on a busy street and looks direct to camera. She is wearing a blue knitted jumper and a blue collared shirt.

Rev Ronald Nathan

Rev. Ronald A. Nathan is a seasoned Christian minister and consultant with over 44 years of experience serving underserved communities across the Caribbean, Africa, and the UK. A passionate advocate for climate justice, poverty reduction, and sustainable development, Nathan works closely with organizations like Christian Aid UK and the National Church Leaders Forum to address the intersection of faith and social justice. As a Caribbean Consultant, he has led initiatives that support marginalised communities, empowers local leaders and fosters international collaboration for change.

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Rev Ronald is standing sideways and looking forward, He is wearing a white shirt and black trousers. Credit: Ronald Nathan
Rev Ronald is standing sideways and looking forward, He is wearing a white shirt.

Wendy Lloyd

Wendy Lloyd is a spiritual director and pilgrim guide for Mull Another Way, on the Isle of Mull, Scotland, where she lives. She is an Associate Member of the Iona Community and also their communications manager. Wendy also creates content for the Guild of Health and St. Raphael, including their popular Burnout course - 'Burn Like Stars'.  Wendy lives on a croft with her husband Jon, dog Wallace and ponies, Mackie and Freya. She is currently training in Equine Facilitated Learning in the hope that she will soon integrate the ponies into the spiritual direction and pilgrimage experience. 

 

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Wendy is standing sideways and looking at the camera, she is smiling. She has brown hair and is wearing a yellow cardigan and a black top. Credit: Wendy is standing sideways and looking at the camera, she is smiling. She has brown hair and is wearing a yellow cardigan and a black top.
Wendy is standing sideways and looking at the camera, she is smiling. She has brown hair and is wearing a yellow cardigan and a black top.

Powered by Hope workshops

Take a look at our workshop line up - you will book the workshops you want to attend on the day, first come first serve.

Power from the Pew

There is power in every pew in every church, everywhere! That power starts with us – we may not always feel like we have much power especially when it comes to global poverty. But we’re not called to tackle global structural injustice alone! Each of us has the power to invite others into the work of speaking up about global poverty and collective action. This workshop will provide you with practical tools to build power for change from the pew. 

Host: Alpha Gougsa, Christian Aid Campaigns

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Palmerston Place Church Credit: Robin Prime
Woman smiling in a church

Craftivism 1: Wearable Climate Craftivism

Are you more of an eco-worrier than an eco-warrior? Come and stitch what you love onto a badge to keep as a catalyst for thought, conversation and social change. Join this multi-sensory, quiet and mindful workshop supporting The Climate Coalition with Christian Aid and learn about how this project has influenced politicians as well as how Christian Figueres ended up wearing one at a very important meeting! All craft resources supplied. No craft skills needed. 

Host: Sarah P Corbett, founder of the global Craftivist Collective

 

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Credit: Christian Aid
A craftivist quote attached to a park bench

Craftivism 2: My Footprint

This is an act of inner activism to think about our imprint on individuals, our churches and God’s creation. In order to effect outer change we first must look within ourselves. Reflect on how you can thread your gifts and talents through your positive changemaking in your churches and communities in a sustainable and hope-filled way. Join this multi-sensory, quiet and mindful workshop. 

 

Host: Sarah P Corbett, founder of the global Craftivist Collective

Hands sewing a green and white Nakshi kantha star

The Spirit of Activism

This workshop will provide a moment of pause and preparation. It will be an opportunity to share and experience spiritual practices and inspiration that we've found helpful to root and grow our activism. We'll consider how best to cultivate and nourish a spirituality that ensures we keep on keeping on towards a better possible world, together. We'll also consider how spiritual practices such as contemplation, labyrinths, lament, sabbath and pilgrimage are themselves an act of resistance. This workshop is for anyone who wishes to strengthen their hope muscle and cultivate deeper presence in their individual and collective activism.

Host: Wendy Lloyd

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Church members sit in vigil outside a church in Sheffield. There is a banner reading climate justice now Credit: Christian Aid/Kinder Kalsi
Church members sit in vigil outside a church in Sheffield. There is a banner reading climate justice now.

Breaking Bread

We believe that by simply inviting your political representatives into church - to break bread and talk about poverty - you could spark a poverty-busting relationship that could last for years to come. In this workshop we'll explore how breaking bread can build a relationship with your MP, top tips for starting a conversation as well as get the inside track from an MP's perspective. 

Host: Luke Harman, Christian Aid Campaigns

Wolverhampton NE, Holy Trinity meal with MP Sureena Brackenridge

Justice Seeking Church

What are the hallmarks of a justice-seeking church?  How can a church congregation discern the next steps on their justice-seeking journey?  What kinds of conversations and actions are critical to this? This workshop will explore a set of justice seeking principles, priorities and practices and how churches are using them to take action on poverty.

 

Host: Richard Baker, Christian Aid Campaigns

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Church leaders hold a banner reading Vigil for Climate Justice outside UK Parliament Credit: Amy
Church leaders hold a banner reading Vigil for Climate Justice outside UK Parliament
Join us at Powered by Hope

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