A campaign aimed at combatting social hostility and division and its “chilling effect” on civil society has been launched by major sector organisations.
Developed by organisations including NCVO and Hope Not Hate, A Million Acts of Hope aims to highlight everyday acts of kindness, such as volunteering, community food growing and children’s sports coaching.
More than 30 other sector organisations – including Save the Children UK, the Wildlife Trusts and Crisis – have signed up to the campaign, which will culminate in a week of action from 13 to 20 May this year.
Kate Lee, NCVO chief executive, said: “Polarised public debate and hostile narratives are having a chilling effect on civil society, undermining charities’ ability to operate freely.
“We must ensure civil society is protected […] by reaffirming our shared values and creating a space for positive, inclusive action.”
Lee, appointed CEO in August 2025, added that charities’ work was “increasingly under threat” and called for collective action to allow voluntary organisations to continue meeting people’s needs.
Countering ‘division and hate’
In December, NCVO published research showing that charities’ employees, volunteers and beneficiaries were feeling “increasingly unsafe” against a backdrop of growing social and political division across the UK.
Also in December, the Charity Commission published guidance for charities on how to respond to the current “hostile environment”.
Meanwhile, research from King’s College London found that 84% of people in the UK in November 2025 said the country felt divided, up from 79% two years prior.
On today’s campaign launch, Save the Children UK CEO Moazzam Malik said: “In every community across the UK, people are looking out for each other, helping their neighbours, building bridges to counter those sowing division and hate.
“This spring, we want to shine a light on those fighting to give all our children a better future, and to encourage people up and down our country to undertake more acts of hope.”
Civil society organisations across the UK have been encouraged to get involved by contacting [email protected]
