Hope Helps: Navigating Everyday Life

Irish Paralympian Jason Smyth and his wife, Elise, guide Charly-Burridge-Jones through their relationship journey on this episode of Hope Helps. Life’s challenges come in many forms but balancing a family and a Paralympic career is certainly a unique one.

Jason is a five-time gold medallist at the Paralympic Games and holds world records in the 100- and 200-metre sprints. Elise is a stay-at-home mother who takes care of their two young daughters while finding friendship within her church community. Together, they strive to maintain a healthy marriage and a positive attitude through clouds or sunshine.

Faith. Hardship. Loneliness. On this episode of Hope Helps, Charly Burridge-Jones introduces three guests who are on three separate faith journeys. Cristina and Stephen, both members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Jaspreet—a Sikh activist—share the ups and downs of finding, following, rediscovering, and recommitting to their faith. Together the guests explore the full scope of faith journeys—including times when faith has empowered them as well as moments it needed rekindling. Their stories demonstrate how continuing to choose faith in times of weakness brings miracles.

“I’m addicted to my faith.” Jaspreet’s infectious enthusiasm and passion for defending all faiths has inspired many. However, his own faith journey was born years ago, in the midst of a period of depression that almost cost him his life. Unable to find help while struggling with self-harming thoughts, Jaspreet found himself praying on the steps of The Golden Temple—Sikhism’s most sacred religious site. During his lowest of lows, he felt a spark of hope—which then ignited everything. Cristina and Stephen overcame significant opposition from their families to pursue their own faith—a decision which brought healing and happiness to their lives. However, unexpected events in both of their lives—including a difficult divorce and a bewildering heart defect—led them to low points in their journeys. Tune in to this episode of Hope Helps to learn how unanticipated trials and the decision to rekindle faith brought hope, healing, and happiness to their lives.

If you are seriously struggling or thinking of self-harming, please reach out to https://www.samaritans.org or call 116 123 for help and support.

Dancing. Singing. Midnight meals. Tropical Christmas mornings, holiday road trips, Father Christmas and... a barbecue? On this special festive episode of Hope Helps, host Charly Burridge-Jones shares magical Christmas traditions of UK residents from around the world. Featured guests Amy and Michael Morris recount the remarkable story of how their family grew from zero to seven children overnight—just in time for Christmas!

Although it’s said to be the most wonderful time of the year, Amy and Michael understand many may be spending the Christmas season in less than ideal circumstances. Their experience fostering 21 children brought them face to face with real trauma—providing a unique perspective on how to feel the Christmas spirit no matter the situation. Michael, remembering lonelier holiday times, shares that whether we find ourselves in an ideal situation this year or not, “each of us has the opportunity to extend [kindness] to someone else... it’s a time of year where we can give something of ourselves and feel some joy through what we’re able to offer others.” If you’re not feeling the Christmas spirit yet, it’s not too late. Come and hear what the Morris children are looking forward to this Christmas!

“We don’t live in isolated communities,” says civil service worker Mamataj Begum. We meet different people all around us, whether at work, school, sporting events, or simply walking down the street. As society becomes increasingly divided, collaboration with others becomes increasingly valuable. Ben Shapiro is a six-year employee of the interfaith charity, the Faith and Belief Forum. He describes the power people have to dispel stereotypes and solve societal problems when they work together and understand each other. The good news? Exciting opportunities for inter-community engagement are all around us.

Interfaith charities exist to connect people with different backgrounds who share common goals. Ben and Mamataj originally became involved through university programs. Since then, they have participated in interfaith book clubs, theatre productions, zoom conferences, dinner parties, festival days, and fitness challenges. “If you like doing something,” notes Mamataj, “inevitably there’ll be an [interfaith] group on the internet [which also does] that thing.”

In the end, what matters most may not be the activity we engage in, but the attitude we bring. Inter-community environments create a “safe space” where people can be themselves without fear of being judged. When we approach these spaces with curiosity instead of assumptions, we are better prepared to learn from each other. “Take the first step,” Ben urges. “It’s so much better than you can imagine... [Kind, welcoming] people are waiting for you.”

Around the world, there are millions of people fleeing their homes due to war, violence and persecution. The refugee crisis may seem distant, but there are ways we can help from our own homes. On this episode of Hope Helps, host Charly Burridge-Jones and guests shed new light on the experiences of refugees and volunteers in Europe.

Gulwali Passarlay, a refugee-turned-writer shares his experiences during and after his flight from Afghanistan. Nina Kerrou explains what it’s like to volunteer in refugee aid and how ordinary people can help. Both guests acknowledge the need for individuals to assist and help support refugees who cannot help themselves.