Robin Thompson

I am Bishop Robin Thompson (MBA), Executive Director and Co-Founder of Bringing Hope, a Christian charity rooted in the belief that transformation is possible even in the most challenging and overlooked places. Raised in inner-city Birmingham, I grew up surrounded by the realities of crime, inequality, social exclusion and leaving school with no formal educational qualification. A first generation child of the Windrush Generation. These early experiences shaped both my perspective and my lifelong commitment to supporting those most often unheard. For over 30 years, I have worked alongside vulnerable young people, families, and communities across Birmingham and the wider UK. My work is driven not only by professional experience but by lived experience grounding my approach in authenticity, empathy, and a deep understanding of the systemic challenges many people face in their everyday lives. I describe the communities I serve as the “forgotten generation” those who are too often marginalised, misunderstood, or excluded from decision-making processes that directly impact their lives. My work seeks to change this by ensuring communities are not only heard, but actively shape the systems and services designed to support them. Throughout my career, I have contributed to policy development and programme design at local, regional, and national levels. My approach is relational, values-led, and rooted in integrity, recognising that sustainable change happens when institutions work with communities, not to them. What continues to drive me is the belief that "Hope is not abstract optimism, but a catalyst for real and lasting change". As Paul & Patel (1992) state, “Hope is the energy of transformation.” It is this belief that underpins both my leadership and my ongoing work, that everyone deserves a second chance.