We are on a mission to spread hope and positivity throughout Battersea and Nine Elms!

Since May of this year when we launched the new ‘online’ version of #HopeinNineElms – hope squares have flooded in from across the community from schools children, residents and professional artists – we have even had them from as far afield as New Zealand!! The squares have expressed people’s own hopes and messages of hope to encourage others as we all adapt the changes and challenges that 2020 has brought.

Watch the video and listen to the song

In the summer, artists from Nine Elms Arts Ministry collaborated with the Battersea Power Station Community Choir, St George’s CofE Primary School in Battersea, and songwriter and producer Dan Swana to write and record an anthem of hope for our challenging times, inspired by the Hope Squares. The writing workshops and rehearsals were all conducted via Zoom and participants recorded their parts on their smart phones. The result was an upbeat pop ballad called ‘Hope is to Heal’.

This Autumn Nine Elms-based film company, Chocolate Films, created an animated music video to go with the song. The film celebrates the Nine Elms area, animates the lyrics of the song and showcases many of the Hope Squares. As we move into winter and navigate a second lockdown we have released the video and song to bring hope and the call to unity across the local community and beyond.

being involved in the ‘Hope’ song … made me feel less isolated

Sarita Rampat, a local resident involved in the project said:
“I've found being involved in the ‘Hope’ song project a major help in getting through these difficult times. Being part of something bigger within the local community and making friends, even though it's through Zoom, made me feel less isolated.”
#HopeinNineElms and Hope is to Heal are supported by Diocese of Southwark, Wandsworth Council’s Nine Elms team and Battersea Power Station.