The first week of the Guardian’s Hope appeal has raised more than £200,000 for grassroots charities doing inspiring work to bring divided communities together, promoting tolerance and positive change, and opposing racism and hate.

The milestone was reached before the annual fundraising telethon on Saturday. Journalists preparing to take donations over the phone include Polly Toynbee, John Crace, Jonathan Liew, Patrick Wintour and Simon Hattenstone.

The 2025 appeal is raising funds for five charities: Citizens UK, The Linking Network, Locality, Hope Unlimited and Who Is Your Neighbour?

Their vital work helps bring communities together through practical projects that build resilience, relationships, hope and pride. They help people find common ground on issues that matter to them, from affordable housing to youth clubs, arts schemes, community centres and refugee welcome projects.

The Guardian’s coverage to date of our partner charities’ work includes a visit to The Linking Network’s programme that brings primary school children from different faiths and backgrounds together in Bradford, and a trip to witness the Locality member Back In The Room’s efforts to unite a community in Sunderland after riots in 2024 that were fuelled by far-right rhetoric.

The chief executive and lead organiser of Citizens UK, Matthew Bolton, said: “A massive thankyou to Guardian readers for their generosity. Through your donations, we’ll invest in young organisers through mentoring and placements, and train community leaders to organise, shifting today’s divisive narrative and building hope.”

Introducing the appeal last week, the Guardian’s editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner, wrote: “This year’s theme, unapologetically, is hope. We are supporting grassroots charities, which, through their vital work at the heart of local neighbourhoods, nurture community pride and positive change, and provide a powerful antidote to polarisation, distrust and hate.

“Our partner charities – and the projects they support – are united in the belief that however loud the forces of hate and division, they will never drown out the values shared by the vast majority: tolerance, compassion and common humanity.”

Saturday’s telethon takes place from 10am to 6pm. The number to call is 0203 353 4368. Other journalists on the 40-strong team answering your calls include Hugh Muir, Amelia Gentleman, Owen Gibson, Helena Horton, Annie Kelly and Sirin Kale.