Quaker Social Action

Quaker Social Action (QSA) is an independent charity working in east London to tackle poverty and social exclusion. Founded as the Bedford Institute Association (BIA) in 1867, its original purpose was to commemorate the life and continue the work of Quaker silk merchant and philanthropist, Peter Bedford.

Currently based in Bethnal Green, it is comprised of five active projects:

HomeStore was founded in 1988 and is a community furniture recycling project which enables low income households in East London to access affordable furniture.

HomeLink was founded in 1994 and is a rent deposit scheme which enables non-priority single homeless people to access and sustain private-sector housing.

Street Cred is a women's microcredit and business development project which began in 1999 and enables women on low incomes to develop money-making ideas and explore self-employment.

Made of Money? began as a pilot project in October 2005 and was launched in July 2006. It is an emotional-financial literacy project which supports low-income families to talk, listen and learn about money and its impact on their daily lives.

Knees Up began as a pilot project in April 2007. It is a community cohesion and engagement project which uses street parties as a means of engaging low income communities in micro-development.