Alternatives Trust East London

Holistic support for women and families in Newham, leading to transformation and hope.

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 Food Club, 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. Our weekly parenting group was named We Are Family by its first members, as none of them had any other family in the UK to support them.
“Before I knew them, I had nobody. I cry up and down. They are really there for me. “
Our holistic support over 2-3 years helps fragile families move to firm foundations. Practical help means families find suitable housing and gain immigration status that lifts them from destitution. Access to low-cost food and donated baby things enable them to survive during this process. This goes hand in hand with life skills support and counselling that empowers women to overcome trauma and break the cycle of abuse, so they are able to move forward in life. And vital parenting support means that at-risk children are safe, have their emotional and developmental needs met, and can start school without the deficits of poverty.

What your gift could provide

£5

Tops up our food club donations, ensuring children eat healthily.

£30

Pays for two hours of a support worker to advocate for a homeless family.

£100

Pays for 5 free counselling hours for vulnerable women.

Fundraise for us!