A Manifesto for Hope

'Steve Chalke has made a lifestyle out of making good things happen in a challenging world. He has brought people together to understand what is right and just, make clear commitments to it and agree what we must do to deliver it. Our children need hope. This book helps us understand that need and how we can work together to shape policy and society to make that possible.'

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Marvin Rees
Mayor of Bristol

'This important book sets out vital steps for government, civil society and key stakeholders to create integrated care for our young people. As Steve rightly pinpoints, this strategy must be long-term, crossparty, properly funded and be drawn from the full capabilities of society. Nothing is more important for the future of our country than the present for our young people.'

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Sir Tony Blair
Former UK Prime Minister

'This book will not disappoint anyone looking for new inspiration, ambition and hope that we can solve some of the most intractable social problems facing young people today. Steve draws on three decades of rich experience working in communities throughout the country – refusing to accept that change can’t happen – and always holding on to the highest ambitions for our young people, whatever their background or circumstance.'

Anne Longfield CBE
Former Children’s Commissioner for England, and Chair of the Commission on Young Lives

'So many people are quick to make assumptions and stereotype young people, but Steve is on a mission to change this. He is a leader in bringing politicians, policy makers, practitioners and most importantly young people themselves together to look at the reality of issues on the ground. He thrives on creating practical solutions to bring hope and change.'

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Florence Eshalomi
MP for Vauxhall, Steve's local MP

'A brilliant and practical resource, this book will help you to reimagine: communities where every child is nurtured; where families thrive; and where local charities, grassroots movements and faith groups are empowered to work in a more collaborative, less bureaucratic and far more productive relationship with both local and national Government.'

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Professor Kevin Fenton CBE
Statutory public health advisor to the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority and Regional Director of Public Health for NHS London

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'Steve has dedicated his life to changing young people’s lives and transforming our world for the better, and he has distilled a lifetime of experience into this remarkable book. It’s everything I love about Steve – bold, brave, compelling, inspirational and earthed in wisdom and experience.

Steve is right: we need a revolution to build a society
for all children and his manifesto for hope is a radical clarion call for change.'

‍Mark Russell
Chief Executive, The Children’s Society

‘Never have I read a book that has so much love, wisdom and common sense in every chapter! This book resonated with me in a way no book ever has before. Steve’s decades of real-life experience shine through in the compassion and wisdom on every page. His manifesto for hope is just what we need right now.’

‍Julie Siddiqi, MBE
Mentor, consultant, social activist and former

Executive Director of the Islamic Society of Britain

‘WOW! Everyone should read and then reread this book. It was born out of total frustration with our broken systems and a lifetime of experience, which I have watched, of swimming against the tide to create hope.’

Anthea Turner
Television presenter

Podcast Trailer

Buy the book

An Introduction: Ten principles for transforming the lives of children, young people and their families with Steve Chalke’s guest and expert witness Sir Stephen Timms, MP

Principle 1: An ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory, with Steve Chalke’s guest and expert witness Ben Lindsay OBE, CEO of Power the Fight

Principle 2: Where there’s ruin, there’s hope, with Steve Chalke’s guest and expert witness Hilary Cottam OBE, social entrepreneur

Principle 3: You go faster alone, but you can go further together, with Steve Chalke’s guest and expert witness Marvin Rees OBE, Mayor of Bristol

Principle 4: Without a vision the people perish, with Steve Chalke’s guest and expert witness Steve Parish, Owner of Crystal Palace FC

Principle 5: You can judge the wisdom of any society by the investment it makes in its children with Steve Chalke's guest and expert witness Dr Celia Sadie

Principle 6: Individually we are one drop; together we are an ocean with Steve Chalke's guest and expert witness Mark Russell

Principle 7: Do things ‘with’ people not ‘to’ them or ‘for’ them, with Steve Chalke’s guest and expert witness Julie Siddiqi MBE, social entrepreneur

Principle 8: Trust is the glue of life, with Steve Chalke’s guest and expert witness Anne Longfield CBE, former Children's Commissioner for England

Principle 9: People follow people, not disembodied principles with Steve Chalke's guest and expert witness Derrick Evans MBE

Principle 10: People become what they believe with Steve Chalke’s guest and expert witness Chine McDonald, Director of Theos Think Tank

Afterword: We shape our systems, then they shape us! Steve talks with sociologist and Baptist preacher Tony Campolo

The Manifesto for Hope: For a New Social Covenant with Steve Chalke's guest and expert witness Danny Kruger, MP

Podcast Finale: If we are going to build and fund an integrated and holistic system of care for children, young people and their families; one which is aligned and attuned to the real needs of those it seeks to serve, we have to reimagine society together.