Quaker Social Action

About us

Confronting poverty in East London
QSA exists to support, equip and empower individuals, families and communities living in east London to find routes out of poverty. We are an award-winning independent charity, founded in 1867 by Quakers who wanted to improve the lives of people living in poverty in the East End. Although the shape of poverty has changed, it is telling that the need for our work is as great now as it has ever been. Growing up in income poverty is a reality for 44% of inner London children, compared to 30% nationally, and the boroughs which consistently come top of the poverty indicator league tables are in the East End. Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham have the highest proportion of benefit claimants and pensioners receiving Pension Credit, and the risk of premature death is about twice that in wealthier areas such as Kensington & Chelsea.

Responding locally, sharing our ideas nationally
We provide innovative, effective and focussed services which make a real difference to the lives of around 3,000 households every year. From housing support to financial literacy, we use a range of meaningful interventions to address some basic needs, as well as enabling people to realise the potential for longer-term change.

We don’t just work locally either; if a service is particularly effective, or an issue too important to keep quiet about, we find ways to work nationally to benefit disadvantaged people across the UK. Since 2009 we’ve trained 101 other organisations from Belfast and Glasgow to Portsmouth to use our innovative family financial literacy model. We are also beginning to work strategically to raise awareness of funeral debt and improve circumstances for bereaved people across the UK.

What we do

Homelessness, housing & community support
We help local households to build up their homes on a very tight budget, through our furniture reuse scheme Homestore. It was one of the first of its kind, and over 20 years on it has stayed true to its original mission, keeping prices accessible for the very poorest families. Today, we serve 1,700 households every year, from single people who have been homeless, to families resettling after fleeing domestic violence.

Our Homelink scheme gives young people facing homelessness the chance to get a footing in the private rented sector. We set them up with a bond guarantee and pre-tenancy training, as well as follow-up support to get them back on their feet with work and training. Since 1994 we have helped nearly 1,800 people out of homelessness, with a 90% tenancy sustainment rate.

Knees Up is a community development project empowering residents of the city’s deprived housing estates to come together, resolve conflict and make their areas better places to live. Starting with summer street parties, we support adults and children to take part in collaborative workshops and activities to strengthen cohesion and inspire action and leadership.

Financial inclusion & debt prevention
Made of Money is an award-winning family financial literacy programme. Our courses support families around budgeting, savings and debt, as well as working with parents to develop communication and parenting skills to give their children a more positive financial future. We work with around 200 families each year, as well as training partner facilitators nationwide.

Bereavement can have a devastating financial impact on people living in poverty, so we recently launched Down to Earth to address the taboo issue of death and debt. Mentors support recently bereaved people to plan affordable, meaningful funerals within a budget. In its first year, we supported close to 100 people in need, as well as helping others to begin planning ahead for their own funerals.

What we’re raising funds for
By investing with us, you’ll be investing in children, families and older people, helping them to find routes out of poverty. We aim to raise £25,000 each year to contribute to all five of our services:

• Homestore: furniture reuse
• Homelink: shared renting for homeless young people
• Made of Money: family financial education
• Knees Up: street parties and community development
• Down to Earth: affordable funerals

Find out more at www.quakersocialaction.com
Quaker Social Action - registered charity No. 1069157

Disclaimer

Disclaimer

Please note this page does not form part of the bond offer documentation and prospective investors should not rely on it when deciding whether to invest in Allia bonds. The information on this page has been provided by the cause as a summary of its activities. Allia accepts no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of this information and prospective investors should contact the cause directly if they require further information or verifications.

The cause is required to use any funds raised through Allia’s charitable bonds in line with the activities described on this page. However, the cause reserves the right to use funds where it considers them to be most needed in order to achieve the same or similar social outcomes.