Many of our government-funded systems are failing the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. At the same time, we are side-lining our greatest national asset: local people. We have a stark choice – to keep pouring money into policies we know aren’t working, or to invest in new and better ways that really improve people’s lives.
We need a radical reset: one that empowers local charities, grassroots movements and faith groups, in a more imaginative, less bureaucratic, more collaborative approach to community development.
A Manifesto for Hope sets out ten tried-and-tested practical principles for how to develop joined-up, cost-effective, community-empowering work, each gleaned from the hard-won experience that has sat at the heart of Steve Chalkes work at Oasis over the past four decades. It culminates in a call for a new social covenant, one that will transform the life chances of countless young people and families.
In this podcast series, Steve talks to 13 expert witnesses who help him bring his book to life with their own thoughts and experiences.
Steve’s book is available wherever you buy your books but we recomend you buy it from Bookshop.org, an online bookshop with a mission to financially support local, independent bookshops.
This book is also available on Audible.
This podcast is powered by Oasis. Our producer is Peter Kerwood and the sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Many of our government-funded systems are failing the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. At the same time, we are side-lining our greatest national asset: local people. We have a stark choice – to keep pouring money into policies we know aren’t working, or to invest in new and better ways that really improve people’s lives.
We need a radical reset: one that empowers local charities, grassroots movements and faith groups, in a more imaginative, less bureaucratic, more collaborative approach to community development.
A Manifesto for Hope sets out ten tried-and-tested practical principles for how to develop joined-up, cost-effective, community-empowering work, each gleaned from the hard-won experience that has sat at the heart of Steve Chalkes work at Oasis over the past four decades. It culminates in a call for a new social covenant, one that will transform the life chances of countless young people and families.
In this podcast series, Steve talks to 13 expert witnesses who help him bring his book to life with their own thoughts and experiences.
Steve’s book is available wherever you buy your books but we recomend you buy it from Bookshop.org, an online bookshop with a mission to financially support local, independent bookshops.
This book is also available on Audible.
This podcast is powered by Oasis. Our producer is Peter Kerwood and the sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can judge the wisdom of any society by the investment it makes in its children: The importance of taking a trauma-informed approach to supporting children. In this episode Steve’s guest and expert witness is Dr Celia Sadie. In part one Steve sets out his fifth principle, in part two Dr Celia responds.
“This is my conversation with my guest and expert witness Dr. Celia Sadie, clinical psychologist and Director of Care and Wellbeing at Oasis Restore, England's first ever secure school based in Rochester, in Kent. We talk together about Principle 5: You can judge the wisdom of any society by the investment it makes in its children. It was brilliant talking with Celia, because I know that she understands the revolution that we need to go through if we're to give every young person in our society the opportunity they deserve and allow them to reach their full potential.”
– Steve Chalke
About Dr Celia Sadie
Dr Celia Sadie is the Director of Care and Wellbeing at Oasis Restore – England’s first secure school. She is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and a specialist in adolescent mental health and psychological therapies. Her career has spanned adolescent in-patient and youth custody settings, as well as work in private practice and as an expert witness. Dr Celia has trained, published, and presented her work widely in national and international settings, including contributing to the Lammy Review (2017), and Youth Justice Conventions. Much of her work has focused on the development of trauma-responsive services, and on the particular challenges faced by adolescents in custody and those who work with them.
About this podcast series
This podcast series, and the accompanying book by Steve Chalke, sets out ten tried and tested practical principles for ‘how’ to develop joined up, cost effective, community empowering work, gleaned from the hard-won experience that sit at the heart of the mission of Oasis over the last four decades.
Steve talks to 13 expert witnesses who help him bring his book to life with their own thoughts and lived experiences.
We believe it’s time for a radical reset. It's time for A Manifesto for Hope!
Steve’s book is available wherever you buy your books but we recommend you buy it from Bookshop.org an online bookshop with a mission to financially support local, independent bookshops.
This book is also available on Audible.
The Manifesto for Hope podcast is brought to you by Oasis. Our producer is Peter Kerwood and the sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.