The Coat of Hopes has been taken to Carisbrooke Castle by 70 students from Christ the King College as part of its journey across the Isle of Wight.
The students carried the Coat up to the castle and walked it around the ramparts, taking turns to hold it, with some wearing it to highlight the message that everyone can play a part in creating a better future for the planet.
One student has said:
“We showed the hope that can be there and also showed love and peace.”
Another student has said:
“The pilgrimage made me feel peaceful and connected to God.”
The students also walked the Coat to Carisbrooke Priory, where they sewed on patches they had made at school. A banner created by the students also accompanied the Coat.
Visitors to the Priory also added their own patches and tried on the Coat.
The Coat of Hopes is made up of more than 700 patches created by community groups across the UK. It was created for the COP26 climate conference in 2021 to carry people’s hopes for the future of the planet.
It has since been travelling around the country and is on the Isle of Wight until Sunday (16th March). One of the patches on the Coat was submitted by St Helen’s Eco Church on the Isle of Wight.
In recent days, the Coat has also visited the Green Barn in Yarmouth and the Story Festival at Quay Arts in Newport.
It also spent time in Brighstone, where a crowd gathered to welcome it and its walkers as they arrived from Newport Minster. As part of the welcome, local craftswoman Norma Bradley knitted a special post box topper depicting a miniature version of the Coat. Norma also joined part of the walk from Newport.
Further walks with the Coat include Brighstone to Freshwater Bay on Saturday (7th March) and Freshwater to Yarmouth on Sunday (15th March).
Anyone who would like to join one of the walks is asked to email [email protected].
More information about the Coat is available at www.coatofhopes.uk by clicking on the ‘NOW’ page for up-to-date listings of Isle of Wight events.
