Chapter 1 has its roots in the Christian Alliance of Women and Girls Trust Corporation Ltd, founded in 1920 by a group of women concerned for the social and spiritual needs of young single women working in cities.

Today we operate some 50 services throughout England, working with more than 40 local and administrative authorities. We are developing more social enterprises and devising ways for all our services to be less dependent on public sector funding. Much of our work is carried out in partnership with other like-minded organisations, including:

• Churches and faith groups
• Charities
• Statutory agencies such as healthauthorities and the police
• Private landlords
• Commercial businesses
• Volunteer groups

Together we offer a range of support to a wide spectrum of client groups, including:

• Families and single people who are at risk of becoming homeless.
• Young people who may have found themselves alone, caught in a downward spiral and rejected by their families.
• People who are struggling with mental illness and abuse, who need a safe haven, a sympathetic ear and the strength to turn their lives around.
• Single parents and their children who need a safe place to live, or support to discover an independent life on their own terms.
• People caught up in dependency on alcohol or drugs.
• Parents in dispute who need safe places to maintain contact with their children.