The Mary Ward Settlement is a London charity founded in the 1890's ‘to provide public education and social service for the benefit of the community’. Today we work to rebuild communities, counter disadvantage and inequality and help people across London rebuild lives and discover better futures. We aim to reduce inequality through education for those who missed opportunities, providing access to justice and by countering isolation. For over a century our education centres and our legal services have continued to develop to enable Londoners to improve their life chances. We help people learn new skills, get back into work, solve legal problems, combat social isolation, and enhance their health and well-being.
Each year, we empower over 9,500 people by providing;
• Access to Justice through free specialist legal advice in housing, debt and welfare benefits
• Learning and personal development through specialist adult education offering basic literacy and maths, skills for employability, courses to improve health/ well-being and to develop/ rekindle a passion, such as art or music
• Projects responding to local need and which help those facing the most disadvantage - such as isolated and elderly Londoners; people with severe and enduring mental health conditions; those with disabilities and long-term health conditions; and those on low-incomes
• A community hub where people from across London’s communities and our local neighbourhoods can meet around a common interest, promoting social cohesion and community engagement
Our approach is inspired by our founders’ principles and zeal for social reform, and in particular Mary Ward’s concept of ‘Equalisation’, which is akin to social inclusion
