It’s New Year and a time for renewal – and for many people, there are hopes 2025 can be a bit ‘nicer’ than 2024 after a year of war, rising prices and rents and fears about the way the world is changing. We went out into Leicester city centre on New Year’s Eve to ask people what dreams they had for the coming year in both their own lives and around the world.
For Andrea Scarpato and Silvia Johnson, their hopes were global. Andrea, 39, said: “I think most people will be worried about the world – finance, job security and health, in particular. I think the world needs more communication and better support for people who are vulnerable, as well as a stronger education system that prepares people for the world.”
Silvia, 38, added: “I think things going back to the way they were before Covid would be good. We became very detached from one another and we need to come together again – we need more equality.”
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Vanessa Hughes, 50, had a long wish list for the way the world should change over the coming year: “We need love and peace in the world and to get society more civil again in terms of caring for others. I hope people’s money worries can improve because I know the cost of living crisis isn’t just crippling me but crippling lots of other people. We need to look after people more.
“Everyone’s chasing money all the while and it’s taking away from the important things like taking care of each other and looking after people.” She said she hoped that more could be done to tackle the trade in illegal drugs, better help for people coming out of psychiatric hospitals and prisons and for the justice system to “get back on track”.
She was also keen for people to come together in simple ways, such as via community groups. She said: “I do poetry and music and volunteer at Age UK and Scope in Oadby and it’s helped me a lot, as well as teaching me the benefits of a good work ethic.
“I just want people to be more equal because at the end of the day we are all equal.” She said she also hoped things would improve in the health service and education, including an end to students “being clobbered with paying back big loans” and the recognition that young people are the future.
Vanessa Hughes thought there was a lot that needed improving over the next year in the UK
Kyle Moore, 27, said he hoped Leicester would “become nicer”. He also hoped “for Leicester City Council to stop wasting money on bike lanes,” he said, pointing to the new cycle paths along Granby Street just as a bike went past ignoring the cycle lane and going the wrong way up the road.
He added: “The UK needs reforming as a country, making the economy better for people. There are too many homeless and there’s a housing crisis while all these people are coming over illegally on boats.”
Thomas Ford, 20, said the world needed more acceptance and communication. “I think people are too focused on themselves and we need a new community vibe,” he said. “I’ve got an easy life and I’m blessed, but I think people generally need more help and support.”
Abdul Mohammed, 27, who is an engineering student, said: “In 2025, I want to spend more time with my family and I just hope 2025 will be better than 2024. For the world, I want to see more peace and togetherness.
Abdul hoped for more global togetherness in 2025 and to spend more time with his family
“I’ve no idea if it’s going to improve. But I do love this country and the opportunities there are for people who study hard and work hard.”
Musician Honest Dave, 65, who has been making music for half a century, said he mostly wanted more tolerance, good things for his extended family and for his own life to carry on as it has been. He said: “It’s a big question and I’m the sort of person who’s going to reflect on it for the next four hours now!”
Honest Dave hoped for more tolerance in 2025
Jean Roberts, 74, was upset with the wars around the world, particularly the invasion of Gaza. And, for herself, she hoped she would find her cat, Zig, who disappeared when she was moving house recently.
Jean Roberts hoped for peace in the world 2025 – and to find her cat
She said: “I just moved into a bungalow and my cat disappeared so I’m hoping I can find him again. I’d also like all these bloody wars to stop. Men and their guns!
“It’s the innocents who suffer – the children. How can they bomb hospitals and accuse doctors of being terrorists? I can’t get my head around it.
“But I don’t know what I can do about that so I’ll be focused on getting my bungalow sorted and finding Zig.”
Let us know your hopes for 2025 in the comments below.