Hope 08 looking to long term in Cambridge

Hope for Cambridge is set to become a registered charity, laying the foundation for Hope 08 to serve the city in "word and action mission" well into 2009 and beyond.

"We're carrying on because Hope08 has been fundamental in getting churches here to operate together in a way they haven't done for years and years," said Hope08 advocate Barrie Woodman.

Projects that Hope for Cambridge will be continuing and developing include Passion plays, innovative schools work and various social action projects.

The churches are currently working with the council to deliver a Christmas carol concert on the local ice rink. They are also planning to launch Street Pastors later this year, an operation Woodman believes "will need multi-church involvement".

He added, "We don't want to stop - we want to make sure this carries on."

Hope08 co-founder and Youth for Christ chief Roy Crowne said, "The dream of Hope08 was to be a catalyst to enable churches to work together to transform communities. So to see something start and then live on is exciting."