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Hope blows in

April 01 2026
Outreach in Brighton. © Varun Akaash Prabhaker Outreach in Brighton. © Varun Akaash Prabhaker

The harsh reality of winter and how communities in Brighton have come together to provde hope and support. By Varun Akaash Prabhaker

Winter is more or less behind us. I cannot quite say it is over, because in the UK there always seems to be a little winter lingering in the air. Along the south coast, the past few months have been especially harsh. Strong winds, grey skies and biting cold have shaped the season.

For many people, winter is simply an inconvenience. For others, it is a daily struggle. In cities like Brighton, the sea breeze carries a cold that cuts through layers of clothing and into the bones. The wind rolling in from the sea makes life particularly difficult for those sleeping rough. Nights grow longer and colder, and the simplest tasks become exhausting challenges.

Yet even in these darker months I noticed something else moving through the air. Alongside the cold, there is also hope.

During these difficult weeks the community has stepped forward in quiet but meaningful ways to support those who need it most. One such effort takes place every Sunday evening along the seafront near the Peace Statue.

Here, volunteers from Knight Support charity gather week after week regardless of the weather. At six o’clock in the evening they arrive with warm drinks, hot food, clothing, sleeping bags and other essential supplies for people facing the winter without shelter. Conversations are shared, dignity is restored and advice is offered to those looking for a way forward. The volunteers stay for as long as they are needed, making sure everyone who comes seeking help receives something. Sometimes it is a warm meal or dry clothing. Sometimes it is guidance that may help them take the next steps toward stability. Their presence brings a quiet warmth to an otherwise brutal season and reminds us that compassion can exist even in the coldest moments.

In a world that often feels driven by competition and urgency, choosing kindness becomes a powerful act. On these Sunday evenings something remarkable takes place. People from many different backgrounds gather together in the same space and a shared sense of humanity fills the air.

There is a feeling of solidarity here that touches not only those receiving help but also those simply passing by. Even someone observing from the outside, like myself, can feel it. Week after week I am reminded that humanity reveals itself most clearly in difficult times. Courage lives here and resilience runs deep. There is also a quiet kind of care that does not need to be announced loudly to be felt.

With the arrival of warmer days there is a sense that change is possible and that new beginnings may lie ahead for many people.

For anyone in need along the south coast, the volunteers gather every Sunday evening near the Peace Statue in Brighton. Everyone is welcome here.

Even in the coldest winds hope continues to move quietly through this city.

  • Varun is a Brighton-based freelance photojournalist and founder of Allez Productions. See his website here: www.allezproductions.com


Spring
by D

The spring is here
The war is there
The flowers are blooming here
The bombs are blooming there
Tomorrow they will be here.

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April – May 2026 : Working together

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