About Renew
From our beginnings as the West Ham Central Mission, to our role today as a counselling and training charity, Renew’s work has always had people at its heart.
We’re proud to run a multi-layered, high-quality and far-reaching service, supported by a group of dedicated professionals that specialise in everything from counselling adults, young people and children to delivering training and supervision.
Whether you’re coming to Renew for counselling, to study on one of our courses or for supervision, our offer is all about empowering you. We’re passionate about giving you a safe space to do the work and a voice to make yourself heard, but ultimately our goal is to enable you to build on your own strengths as you grow and develop.
Our Mission
To provide high quality, effective and affordable counselling to help people face whatever life throws at them and to make the best of future opportunities.
Our Vision
To see thousands of children, young people and adults experience life in its fullness.
Our Values
We believe that every human being is unique, valuable and destined to live fully.
We will:
- Be non-judgemental – whatever the issue.
- Respect age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and faith.
- Provide the space that counselling gives.
- Offer a response tailored to individual need.
We are committed to:
- Providing high-quality, low-cost, accessible and responsive counselling and psychotherapeutic interventions to such persons.
- Training counsellors to a high professional standard.
- Supervising and training other professionals who are engaged with emotional and mental health issues.
OUR HISTORY
OUR HISTORY
1905
Robert Rowntree Clifford begins administering a fund for the relief of the poor. He establishes the Baptist Mission in Plaistow as West Ham Central Mission, providing practical and spiritual support, respite and guidance.
1920s
WHCM opens homes for the elderly. In the same year, we started working with young people in the community.
1948
WHCM sells the children’s home in Hutton and opens Greenwoods, a 16-bedroom home for those who need support.
WHCM welcomes Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. This was one of many visits from the Royal family.
1953
As well as carrying out important work in Essex, WHCM’s work in East London continued, opening a boy’s home in 1953.
1978
WHCM purchases a parsonage, providing a
secure base for those entering into
employment and independence.
1979
WHCM works to open sheltered housing in
Plaistow. While no longer part of our
charity’s work, it is still
in operation today.
1983
WHCM builds York House on Barking Road,
which is still owned by the charity today.
The charity begins to move towards supporting people with their mental health mental health difficulties with the opening of Bodey House Counselling and Teaching Centre.
Our work in Sadlers House, Chelmsford, continues to flourish. Alongside our counselling work we begin to develop our training offer, now delivered in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University. Although counselling in our East London centre has closed, we continue to support schools in East London.
Throughout the 1900s WHCM continues to support the community, by giving accommodation to workers without secure lodgings and opening children’s homes in Tiptree and Hutton.
1998
With the landscape of health and social care changing once more, government support for residential homes was withdrawn. WHCM closes Greenwoods, which had been run by the inspitational Ron Messenger.
WHCM opens in the heart of the community in Basildon and begins providing counselling and support to children, young people and adults
both within our centre and in schools.
2013
WHCM changes its name to Renew to more accurately reflect what we do today.
2020
Renew works with Essex County Council and other partners to provide support to the community throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
1905
Robert Rowntree Clifford begins administering a fund for the relief of the poor. He establishes the Baptist Mission in Plaistow as West Ham Central Mission, providing practical and spiritual support, respite and guidance.
1920s
WHCM opens homes for the elderly. In the same year, we started working with young people in the community.
1948
WHCM sells the children’s home in Hutton and opens Greenwoods, a 16-bedroom home for those who need support.
WHCM welcomes Elizabeth the Duchess of Edinburgh, who would soon be Queen. This was one of many visits from the Royal Family.
1948
WHCM sells the children’s home in Hutton and opens Greenwoods, a 16-bedroom home for those who need support.
WHCM welcomes Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. This was one of many visits from the Royal family.
1983
WHCM builds York House on Barking Road,
which is still owned by the charity today.
The charity begins to move towards supporting people with their mental health mental health difficulties with the opening of Bodey House Counselling and Teaching Centre.
Our work in Sadlers House, Chelmsford, continues to flourish. Alongside our counselling work we begin to develop our training offer, now delivered in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University. Although counselling in our East London centre has closed, we continue to support schools in East London.
2013
WHCM changes its name to Renew to more accurately reflect what we do today.
2020
Renew works with Essex County Council and other partners to provide support to the community throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
Throughout the 1900s WHCM continues to support the community, by giving accommodation to workers without secure lodgings and opening children’s homes in Tiptree and Hutton.
1953
As well as carrying out important work in Essex, WHCM’s work in East London continued, opening a boy’s home in 1953.
1978
WHCM purchases a parsonage, providing a
secure base for those entering into
employment and independence.
1979
WHCM works to open sheltered housing in
Plaistow. While no longer part of our
charity’s work, it is still
in operation today.
1998
With the landscape of health and social care changing once more, government support for residential homes was withdrawn. WHCM closes Greenwoods, which had been run by the inspitational Ron Messenger.
WHCM opens in the heart of the community in Basildon and begins providing counselling and support to children, young people and adults
both within our centre and in schools.