THE free phone line DailyHOPE has secured fresh funding, which is allowing the service to reopen just six weeks after it closed because of economic difficulties.
The line was created 4 years ago by the Church of England, the charity Faith in Later Life, and Connections, at Holy Trinity, Claygate, to support older individuals who lacked access to online worship during national lockdowns (News, 1 May 2020).
Launched in April 2020, it provided prayers, hymns, and reflections. Its closure was announced in the primary week of February (News, 9 February). The Archbishop of Canterbury said on the time: “Over these past nearly 4 years I even have been so glad to listen to the stories of lives transformed, encouraged, and supported by this telephone line. It is due to this fact sad that now we have to stop this service.”
Faith in Later Life took over the event and ownership of the road last yr. On Sunday, its chief executive, Alexandra Drew, confirmed that the service had reopened with immediate effect, because of latest funding.
She said on Sunday that closing had been “a particularly heart-wrenching decision to make. I do know that it’s been a lifeline to many older people, especially those unable to attend church in person and without online access to spiritual comfort. . .
“Amidst letters of thanks, and expressions of sadness on the closure, our prayers that God would yet provide continued, and although the timing wasn’t quite what we might need hoped for, God’s answer has been overwhelming. I’m thrilled to share the news that now we have been in a position to restore DailyHOPE for an additional season.”
The charity was looking forward to welcoming latest callers, content-providers, and funding partners to proceed the service.
Pam Rhodes, the broadcaster, who’s an envoy for Faith in Later Life, said that that the recognition of DailyHOPE was “no wonder” — and that “the thought that this vital service could have been lost to those that value and rely on it brought real despair. But, now, we’re thankful to God that DailyHOPE has been saved.”
One caller said of the service: “I even have found DailyHOPE to be such a blessing in my life, daily. It encourages me as a Christian, the presenters have turn out to be like friends, and the range of the fabric on the several options is refreshing.”
The charity is welcoming donations at: faithinlaterlife.org/donate
