Registration is now open for the third London Freedom Walk, in support of vulnerable communities around the globe.

Organised by supporters of international development agency Christian Aid – which is this year marking its 80th anniversary – the London Freedom Walk takes place on Saturday, May 10, from noon-5pm and covers around five miles.

It marks the start of Christian Aid Week 2025 which raises money to support communities working to free themselves from poverty and tackle the challenges of the climate crisis.

Every year, supporters around the country have seven days to make a difference, and walkers in London are doing their bit by stepping out around the capital, taking in many of the city’s churches.

Walkers visit churches all round the capital.

placeholder image — Walkers visit churches all round the capital.

Methodist Minister, Baron Leslie Griffiths of Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, is supporting the event. He said: “With aid budgets severely cut and with Christian Aid marking its 80th anniversary, there can be no better time for this event. Your walk, however small you may think it is, will be a giant affirmation of the importance of our commitment to support the most vulnerable communities in the world.”

London Freedom Walk organiser Richard Smart explained the route would start from St Martin-in-the-Fields, at Charing Cross, and end at St Paul’s Cathedral, in time for Evensong. He added: “We have a new route for 2025 which will take us around some notable locations, including St Ethelreda’s, in Farringdon – the oldest Roman Catholic church in England, and Bunhill Fields Quaker Garden – the final resting place of many famous people such as John Bunyan and William Blake.

“This event is growing in popularity and is a great way of bringing people together in solidarity with others around the world, many of whom have to walk long distances for clean water or to find work. We look forward to welcoming friends old and new to this year’s walk.”

Money raised from this and other Christian Aid Week events will help the organisation’s partners empower vulnerable communities to find practical and sustainable ways out of poverty.

Christian Aid supporters take to the streets of London each year for the annual Freedom Walk.

This year’s appeal - from May 11-17 - is focussing on work in Guatemala, in Central America, where climate change is causing seasons to intensify and shift erratically. As a result, farming communities have to battle severe floods and, more recently, ferocious heatwaves. Water sources are drying up and vital crops are failing, plunging farming families into hunger and poverty.

Amelia is 24 and a mother of two from the Alta Verapaz region. She said the situation is very worrying:“In the past three years, we have been experiencing high heat and a lack of rain. One of the biggest issues is the lack of water…My plantations have been dying… and there is no food for my family.”

Despite the challenges families are facing, the unstoppable power of hope drives people to look for ways to push back. Christian Aid has been working with organisations like, Coordinación de ONG y Cooperativas, to offer training and tools so farmers can diversify and grow more resilient crops, build water recycling systems, and create organic fertiliser.

When Amelia discovered these initiatives, she put herself forward as a community representative, attending training sessions and bringing the learning back, to train other women in her community. She also raises awareness about the environment, discouraging people from littering, and encouraging people not to sell their land.

To find out more about projects like these and how to get involved, visit christianaid.org.uk.

Anyone wanting to take part in the London Freedom Walk can sign up for the event at Christian Aid Freedom Walk - Eventbrite.