Divest UK
In 2025, Hope for the Future supported UK Divest, in partnership with Finance Innovation Lab and Platform, to strengthen political engagement around the forthcoming Pensions Reform Bill. The campaign sought to secure commitments to phase out fossil fuel investments from large government-backed pension funds, at a point when climate considerations were largely absent from proposed reforms.
Recognising strong demand from campaigners to engage MPs more effectively on pensions policy, Hope for the Future designed and delivered two tailored workshops, supporting 74 activists from across the UK.
The training focused on demystifying parliamentary processes, identifying strategic moments for influence, and developing clear, realistic requests to MPs. This was particularly important for campaigners who were experienced in local campaigning but less familiar with Westminster engagement.
Alongside this, Hope for the Future worked with UK Divest to develop a bespoke resource focused on framing fossil fuel divestment in ways that resonate with MPs’ priorities, including financial risk, fiduciary duty and long-term economic stability. The resource helped campaigners prepare for common objections and approach political conversations with greater confidence and strategic clarity.
To support longer-term campaign effectiveness, Hope for the Future also delivered a strategy day for Platform staff, who lead the UK Divest campaign. The session focused on strengthening strategic engagement with politicians across Platform’s wider work, including power mapping, understanding parliamentary processes, and exploring how to engage decision-makers effectively while retaining a clear and progressive organisational voice.
This helped embed political engagement skills and shared strategic approaches across the organisation, supporting more coordinated and effective campaigning.
Together, this work strengthened the campaign’s readiness to engage Parliament at key stages of the Pensions Reform Bill, ensuring both campaigners and campaign leads were better equipped to contribute to sustained, coordinated political engagement on a complex national policy issue.
Just last month, the landmark Pension Schemes Act 2026, which received Royal Assent on April 29, 2026, set a historic legislative framework to phase out risky fossil fuel investments. The Act directly mandates that the government address systemic climate change risks by restricting pension funds from holding high-polluting thermal coal assets.
Supporting vital policy change like this is exactly why Hope for the Future exists!
If you want to know if your council is fueling the climate crisis and take action - visit Divest UK's website.