History

Alternatives has been providing mental health support for vulnerable women in Newham since 1994, and holistic family support since 2005.

Founded by local qualified counsellor Julia Acott in 1994, Alternatives was led by her for 25 years. Initially run entirely by volunteers, Alternatives registered as a charity in 2004 and delivered its growing services from different venues in Plaistow until moving to its current base in Forest Gate in 2023.

Always responsive to the changing needs of the women we work with, Alternatives has in the past offered youth work and schools work focused on healthy relationships, a therapeutic story group for children, and skills courses and social enterprises to help women into work.

Alternatives is thriving under a new generation of leadership – both staff and trustees. We’re enjoying a new era of professionalism, thanks to lottery funding for core staff, and greater partnership and co-production within Newham.

But our ethos remains the same: all of the team at Alternatives understand the importance of listening to and recognising the humanity and the potential in each individual who comes to us for help, sometimes in the most challenging circumstances – many of us have been there ourselves.