Hope UK

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Hope UK is a national Christian charity located at 25(f) Copperfield Street, London, England which is dedicated to educating children and young people about the perils of drug and alcohol use.

Building, next to Leeds Bridge, in which the Band of Hope was founded in 1847.

It began as the Band of Hope in 1847 in Leeds, to teach and impress upon children the importance and principles of sobriety and teetotalism. In 1855, a national organisation was formed amidst an explosion of Band of Hope work. Meetings were held in churches throughout the UK and included Christian teaching.

In 1847 at a meeting on these premises the "Band of Hope" Movement was formed. It's [sic] title being suggested by the Reverend Jabez Tunnicliffe, a prominent Leeds temperance worker.

Set up in an era when hard liquor was generally viewed as a necessity of life, next only to food and water, the Band of Hope and other temperance organisations fought to counteract the influence of pubs and brewers, with the specific intention of rescuing 'unfortunates' whose lives had been blighted by drink and teach complete abstinence.

Christians and Temperance Societies saw this as a way of providing activities for children that encouraged them to avoid alcohol problems. Alcohol-free premises were established, rallies, marches and demonstrations were mounted to oppose the evils of hard liquor that were attended by thousands of supporters, and coffee taverns were established to keep teetotalers on the straight and narrow.

‘Signing the pledge’ was one of the innovative features. The pledge was a promise not to drink alcohol and millions of people signed up. There were also lectures that were illustrated by magic lantern, the technological equivalent to present day computerised PowerPoint displays, and noted personalities were invited to speak at public meetings in support of the cause.

The movement steadily grew to nearly 3,000,000 members by 1935. By the early 1950s, however, the temperance movement had all but succumbed to a changing society and cultural habits. Lack of support for the Band of Hope eventually brought about their transformation into Hope UK.

Hope UK remains concerned with children's welfare, giving greater priority to the development of resources and training for parents and children's workers of many kinds. They also attempt to persuade churches and other Christian organisations to include drugs awareness work within their programmes and play their part in helping to reduce the UK's alcohol and other drugs problems.

Hope UK is affiliated to the International Blue Cross Federation.