east to west is one of several charities that St John’s supports via the mission partnership team. We give 10% of our unrestricted gifts to our partners.

About east to west

east to west is at the forefront of bringing hope to young lives. Their vision is for children, young people and families to overcome the challenges (spiritual, mental, emotional and physical) they face and become the very best they can be.

To enable this, they’ve developed Relational Support Work, a pastoral response based on compassionate, valuing relationships which puts those they serve at the heart of all they do. Outworked in partnership with schools over the past 27 years, Relational Support Work has made a difference in the lives of more than 35,000 children, young people and families across a generation.

Here is east to west’s commitment: 

At east to west we are committed to being present in the messy realities of young people’s day-to-day lives, offering hands-on, whole-hearted help for as long as they need it. And we do that because as a Christian organisation we believe that Jesus cares deeply for each vulnerable child and young person we see and wants us to be a practical demonstration of that love.

We are not perfect, and we are always learning, but we work hard to live out our ethos as a selfless and devoted community where compassion and integrity meet fun – so that in every encounter we can bring hope to the young lives we are privileged to be a part of.

Primary Schools Work

At present east to west work across 2 Windsor First Schools and 7 Primary schools across Surrey, Hampshire and West London. As part of this provision we have counsellors in Stanwell (Town Farm) and Isleworth (Nishkam)

Secondary Schools Work

east to west work across 23 Secondary Schools in Surrey, Hampshire and West London delivering Relational Support Work (RSWs), Relational Counselling (RCs) and / or Early Intervention Co-ordinators (EICs) (see below SWP). In addition to this we also support a further 7 schools through the provision of Early Intervention Co-ordinators who work in partnership with the schools to support students and signpost need to appropriate provision.

Hospital Project

Formally referred to as Emerge, the hospital project is based at St. Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey. Delivered over 6 weekly sessions (Sunday – 7:30 – 10:00pm; Monday – Friday 5:30 – 7:30pm) by a team of around 20 volunteers, co-ordinated by the project Team Lead, the Hospital Project supports young people, and their families, who’ve been admitted having self-harmed, attempted suicide or who’re struggling in emotional crisis.

Surrey Wellbeing Partnership (SWP)

Our partnership with the SWP enables us to place an Early Intervention Co-ordinator into secondary schools across Spelthorne, Elmbridge and Woking. This EIC worker is based in school a day per week and in many cases works alongside the RSWs or RCs. Similar to Relational Support Work, EIC’s support through 1:1 sessions and signpost to alternate provision. Alongside this work, we also provide Early Intervention Practitioners (EIPs), who work within a primary school setting. Our aim is to support 75 schools across Spelthorne, Elmbridge and Woking between now and December 2025, by placing an EIP into school a day per week across an academic term.

Social Prescribing

A new project for east to west, and based in Guildford (where we partners with the Matrix Trust), we have placed a Relational Support Worker into the 6 GP surgeries across the Town to provide wellbeing and mental health support for young people, who’re patients at each of these clinics.

Connecting with east to west

Find out more about east to west on their website and follow them on Facebook. Alternatively, you can get in touch with them through emailing info@easttowest.org.uk or ringing 01784 438007