Quaker Social Action exists to resource, enable and equip people living on a low income in east London. Our six projects work towards our vision of a 'just world where people put people first', recognising the people we work with as agents of change not objects of charity.
We work to tackle social exclusion, seeing poverty as not just material but also social. Our work is practical, relating to the everyday needs of the people we work with to make a tangible difference to their lives. Our award-winning project Homestore enables low income households to furnish their homes without getting into debt, while Stepping Stones supports parents who have been unemployed to build their confidence and skills and find routes back into the job market.
Our work is innovative, recently winning a CAF charity award under the field of 'religion and social welfare'. Homelink, our rent guarantee scheme, was the first project in London to provide non-priority homeless people with access to the private rented sector. 15 years on, Homelink continues to provide homeless people with a simple route into independence.
After 142 years working in east London we have seen how poverty affects the lives of individuals, families and communities. We are creative in how we approach need. Down to Earth supports people through the difficult and rarely discussed issues which come with planning a funeral on a low income. Our work has recently been endorsed by New Philanthropy Capital for its preventative approach to financial exclusion (click to see report). At Made of Money we work with families and young people, encouraging parents and children to listen, learn and talk about money and its impact on their lives.
We are motivated by the people we work with, inspired by their stories and driven by their needs. Knees Up, facilitates community development and cohesion. Using the celebration of a street party as a catalyst, Knees Up enables residents to identify the change they want to see in their community and supports them to make that change.
