History & Governance

History

Since 1819, the Claremont has developed as a place of community, creativity and care. Across more than 200 years, our story has had many different chapters. Claremont’s services have adapted over the years to meet changing needs and times, whilst a golden thread of community and connection has always endured.

Many important developments in social care and development have been pioneered at the Claremont. These included healthcare programmes in the 1920’s and 30’s which became models for the Welfare State, one of the first child care services for working women, and even free acting classes as a route out of poverty. Claremont was the first centre in London to offer community medical services for children (a precursor to what later developed as GP surgeries). At a time when people with disabilities were heavily stigmatised and hidden away, Claremont hosted support groups, activities and leisure trips for people with disabilities.

Claremont was first a church (based in what is now the Crafts Council building on Pentonville road); before becoming a Christian mission in the early 20th century; and then, in 1998, becoming the independent charity that it is today, serving people of all faiths and none.

Since 1907, Claremont’s services have been based at our large building at 24-27 White Lion Street. We have had a specialist offer for older adults since the 1960s, originally hosting a lunch club and day centre with a range of social activities for the over 60s.

The Claremont United Reformed Church (URC), who own the freehold of the Claremont building, passed the baton of charitable work, and responsibility for the entire building in a generous lease, over to the charity in 1998 (Reg. Charity No.1070611).

The charity’s constitution sets out broad charitable aims in the service of the people of Islington and surrounding boroughs, as well as beyond. The charity is independent of the church and non-sectarian. We are supported by two church representatives who sit on the Claremont board.

Key milestones in our development as a charity include the launch of our psychotherapy service in the 2000s, and in 2012 our early adoption of the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing scale which enables us to track wellbeing outcomes for our members. In 2012, we became one of the first organisations in London to offer a Social Prescription service, an approach which has subsequently become commonplace across numerous NHS and social care settings. In 2014, Claremont was awarded the Royal Society for Public Health Award for our contribution to preventative and early intervention care for older adults. In 2016, Claremont became a founding member of the Flourishing Lives Coalition, developing a charter for excellence to improve arts and wellbeing services for older people.

Today, the Claremont is a place for creativity, playfulness and joy. We continue our journey of innovation, and most recently we’ve been piloting new work on the role that community arts centres can play in helping people reduce their risks of dementia. Our mission is to give people opportunities to shine and to live happier healthier and more connected lives.

Listen to local historian, Sigrid Werner, describe Claremont’s history on the ‘Welcome to Claremont’ podcast.