Alternatives Trust East London, known as Alternatives, is a small charity that provides holistic support to vulnerable families in Newham in the context of mental health. In practice these are almost all migrant families headed by a lone mother. Around 80-90% of those we work with are homeless, have experienced trauma, and have No Recourse to Public Funds. In 2021 we worked with 441 individuals, including women and children, a 30% increase on the pre-Covid years and in 2022 we are on course to nearly double this number.   Most new clients are seeking help with destitution and food to help their family survive. As well as casework and a weekly Family Hub, Alternatives provides free counselling, parenting and life skills support, a Baby Bank, and skills development to help women move on to support their families. A new cleaning social enterprise aims to diversify income and provide decent, flexible work.  

More than the sum of the services it offers, Alternatives provides a community where women support each other and know they can get help.