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  • 50years
  1. Home
  2. Our 50th Anniversary

Our 50th Anniversary

Hestia celebrates 50 years of #LifeBeyondCrisis

For 50 years, Hestia has provided support and hope every step of the way of recovery.

Today, millions of people are experiencing domestic abuse, modern slavery and challenges with their mental health. Hestia believes no-one should suffer alone.

Together, we can make sure people find a life beyond crisis.


Hestia 50th Anniversary Brochure

Download  our 50th Anniversary brochure


Hestia 50 Voices

Read our 50 Voices book

Over these 50 years, Hestia has grown from a group of generous volunteers who brought food to people living on the streets of central London to a specialist and multi-disciplinary organisation.

Today we support more than 14,000 people each year. Yet we have remained close to our values and the ambitions of those generous volunteers 50 years ago. In 2010 we were supported by 62 dedicated volunteers. Now, this has number has grown to more than 600 people, with their enthusiasm and skills making a big difference for those most in need every single day.

You can read about the lives of some of the people who have made Hestia the vibrant organisation is today in our 50 Voices series.

Our priority is still to meet the needs and aspirations of those who need our support and those who find themselves in crisis so that they can fulfil their potential and have lives beyond crisis.


Get involved in our challenge events, volunteer or start a new career.

“Without our people, Hestia couldn’t do the work that it does.”

“Without our people, Hestia couldn’t do the work that it does.”

50 Voices: HR expert Joanna joined Hestia as a Trustee more than 20 years ago. She's seen first-hand how are teams operate and do the work they do, and how they change lives every day. She shares her insight. Read more

Published: 20th December, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

“My goal is to become a solicitor in a detention centre.”

“My goal is to become a solicitor in a detention centre.”

50 Voices: Rhiannon is an advocate with our modern slavery response team. Over the last five years, she's become passionate about supporting refuges and asylum seekers. This is why. Read more

Published: 20th December, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

“In prison, I tried to better myself. I never want to be back inside again.”

“In prison, I tried to better myself. I never want to be back inside again.”

50 Voices: After time spent in prison, Beth was determined to get life her back on track. After time spent in Hestia's Approved Premises, she's on the right path. Read more

Published: 20th December, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

"I’ve been working with people in crisis for 45 years."

50 Voices: Helen has spent 45 years working with everyone from refugees, to individuals with mental health challenges. Now, she's one of Hestia's domestic abuse service managers. This is her journey. Read more

Published: 20th December, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

“Sometimes, you need to pull the rug from underneath you. You’ll either sink or swim. Most of the time, you swim.”

“Sometimes, you need to pull the rug from underneath you. You’ll either sink or swim. Most of the time, you swim.”

50 Voices: After struggling with her mental health, Harriett ended up leaving her work. Now she's volunteering with Hestia's Age Well Roehampton service, alongside her little dog Charlie. Read more

Published: 20th December, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

“My suits have helped the people I look after to open up.”

“My suits have helped the people I look after to open up.”

50 Voices: Jama is a support worker in one of Hestia's Registered Care Homes. He's also the owner of dozens of wild and wonderful coloured suits. He says they have helped him in his work. Read more

Published: 17th December, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

“I was discriminated against as a minority. Now I’m fighting to empower others.”

“I was discriminated against as a minority. Now I’m fighting to empower others.”

50 Voices: Behnaz is a published author and researcher, exploring religious minorities in Iran and Iraq, forced migration and trafficking. This is what motivates her to continue fighting for vulnerable people. Read more

Published: 13th December, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

“I’m starting to build myself up and do things my own way.”

“I’m starting to build myself up and do things my own way.”

50 Voices: Ann-valancha is a carer, domestic abuse survivor and artist. After experiencing burn out and a breakdown, this is how she began to recover. Read more

Published: 13th December, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

Comments: 1

"I can see the light glimmering at the end of the tunnel"

50 Voices: Melody* shares her experience with mental health, and explains how creative writing has helped to pull her out of a dark place. Read more

Published: 2nd August, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

Comments: 1

"I need to show people that even if you live with anxiety, you can be happy."

50 Voices: When Shahan struggled with his physical health, his mental health suffered too. He wants to use his experience to encourage others to find support Read more

Published: 2nd August, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

Comments: 26

"I'm confident that Hestia will continue to thrive over coming years."

50 Voices: Anil joined Hestia's finance and fundraising subcommittee in 2014 before becoming a trustee. He tells us all the things he's seen over the last seven years. Read more

Published: 2nd August, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

"After 20 years of living on my own, it was good to have someone to talk to."

50 Voices: Ian moved into Hestia's Hospital Discharge Service following trouble with his landlord and issues with his health. This is how the team helped him through it. Read more

Published: 30th June, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

"For some people, just getting out of bed is an achievement, and all achievements need to be celebrated."

50 Voices: Melissa started with Hestia in 2013, on a student social work placement as part of her degree. She's now a senior recovery worker. Read more

Published: 13th May, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

"Every time I come home, I feel like I’ve made a tiny change to someone’s life."

50 Voices: Rachel started volunteering with Hestia when Covid-19 hit the UK. Now, she's a support worker in one of our refuges. Read more

Published: 13th May, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

"I’m not a victim anymore. I am a survivor."

50 Voices: Lubna* shares her experience of emotional, physical and sexual abuse at the hands of her husband, and how she has started to recover. Read more

Published: 13th May, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

"I cannot fathom doing anything else with my life."

50 Voices: From volunteer at the Simon Community to Director of Operations at Hestia, Gayle Lowery-Jones shares the experiences that set her on a path to a life working in the social care sector. Read more

Published: 2nd April, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

"This is not just work for me, it is my life passion to help people."

50 Voices: Vicky, Area Manager of our Registered Care Homes, reflects on why she dreamt of a life helping people - and how she achieved just that. Read more

Published: 1st April, 2021

Updated: 1st February, 2022

"My involvement has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my life."

50 Voices: John became involved with Hestia in 1971, just one year after it was founded. A former Chair of Trustees, John shares a little insight into Hestia over the years. Read more

Published: 2nd March, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

Comments: 4

"I want to fight for women who have no recourse to public funds."

50 Voices: Kat* was supported by Hestia after being in an abusive relationship. Now, she wants to campaign to help other women - particularly those with no recourse to public funds. Read more

Published: 18th February, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

"I don't categorise myself as an ‘older person’ - I still feel 18 at heart!"

50 Voices: Lyn* moved to the UK from Guyana in the 70s. She tells us how she adapted to life in Britain, and how she found her way to Hestia's Age Activity Centre Read more

Published: 18th February, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

"If I can survive, you can. I like to give people the hope that I needed years ago."

50 Voices: TJ shares her story of ongoing recovery and her fight to make talking about suicide the norm Read more

Published: 18th February, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

Comments: 1

"It does a lot for my self-worth to feel part of a team doing so much for people’s needs."

50 Voices: Greg first became a trustee at Hestia in 2002. Nearly 20 years on, he tells us how the organisation has adapted and changed. Read more

Published: 5th February, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

"I've got to meet people I never would have done otherwise"

50 Voices: After his mother passed away, Manoj was in crisis. This is his story of how Hestia's Good Energy Club played a part in his recovery. Read more

Published: 4th February, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

"I helped open some of Hestia’s first HIV and AIDS services and first domestic abuse refuges."

50 Voices: Lesley first joined the Hestia in 1989, and stayed with us until 2015. Over her time, she has seen the organisation grow exponentially. Here are some of her favourite tales from years gone by Read more

Published: 28th January, 2021

Updated: 19th January, 2022

Comments: 2

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Hestia is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales under number 20 20 165 and registered as a Charity number 294 555

Registered office: Beaufort House, 15 St. Botolph Street, London, EC3A 7DT

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