Daily Hope phone line – averaging 20,000 calls a month and an MBE for its cofounder Pippa Cramer

What a success story! The Daily Hope phone line is providing much-needed comfort and solace for thousands of callers each week who tune in for a greeting from the archbishop of Canterbury and the chance to hear favourite hymns and topical biblical reflections.

Warm congratulations to the cofounder of the service, Pippa Cramer MBE, who received her award in the Queen’s New Year Honours.

Pippa, a qualified occupational therapist, is pastoral care and seniors minister at Holy Trinity Church in Claygate, Surrey, where she set up ‘Connections’ – one of the largest church-based gatherings for older people in the UK. She is also an ambassador for the charity, Faith in Later Life.

‘It was a HUGE surprise and quite a shock, but I’m thrilled if this can help raise the profile of older people generally, and more specifically, help us with sharing the gospel with this precious generation.’

0800 804 8044 is the number to ring…

Lately Pippa has been recovering from long-Covid, but this week she told me: ‘I’m so much better now too which is wonderful.’

When she first heard of her award, Pippa said, ‘Over the last year or so, the importance of supporting and valuing our older people has been thrown into the spotlight. However, I did not expect or ever imagine my specific work to be recognised in this way and it is truly humbling. My hope and prayer is that this MBE would create an opportunity to ensure the voice of older people is heard inside and outside the church.’

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