Beat (charity)

Beat is the UK's leading charity supporting those affected by eating disorders and campaigning on their behalf. Founded in 1989 as the Eating Disorders Association, it celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019.[1]

Beat
MottoBeating eating disorders
Formation1989
TypeCharitable organisation
HeadquartersNorwich
Region served
United Kingdom
Chief Executive
Andrew Radford
Websitewww.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Formerly called
Eating Disorders Association

The charity is dedicated to helping people with anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, and other specified feeding or eating disorder,[2] and providing information to the public about these conditions.

History

The charity was founded in 1989 from the amalgamation of the existing UK charities, Anorexic Aid and Anorexic Family Aid. The Society for the Advancement of Research into Anorexia merged with the Eating Disorders Association in 1992.[3] Beat became the Eating Disorders Association's working title in 2007, and was formally adopted in 2018.[4]

Activities

Support services

As well as campaigning for better services for those affected by eating disorders, the charity provides self-help support through several different projects:

  1. Helplines: The charity runs three national helplines, one for adults, one for young people under 25, and one for students. Telephone, email, and one-to-one webchat services are available.[5]
  2. Online Services: The charity's website includes message boards, an online chat facility, online support groups, and a HelpFinder directory.
  3. Peer support: The charity runs Echo, a telephone-based peer support for carers, in some parts of the country.[6]

Campaigning

Beat actively campaigns for better services and understanding of eating disorders.[7] Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) takes place annually.[8]

Ambassadors

The Ambassador scheme allows people who have recovered from an eating disorder to take an active part in Beat's work. They represent Beat in the media or at conferences and events, speaking about their experiences to help reduce the stigma and educate others.[9] Beat received funding in 2013 from Young Start to grow the scheme in Scotland.

Training and Continuing Professional Development

Beat runs conferences and training, providing knowledge, education and training to carers, healthcare and education professionals, and other organisations in both the private and public sector.[10]

The Eating Disorder International Conference (EDIC), aimed at academics, researchers, clinicians and others working in the field of eating disorders[11] runs every two years.

Awards

The charity was a runner up in the healthcare and medical research section of the UK Charity Awards 2007.[12] It also received the national Wellbeing Award of the Children and Young People's Services Awards 2007[13] for its work in developing a forum for young people, and in particular for the charity's active involvement of young people in informing its work, via the forum. The charity was awarded NHS England's now defunct Information Standard quality mark in 2011 to ensure the healthcare information it provides is of high quality and reliable. It received the 2011 Nominet Internet Award, Empowering Young People & Citizens, Exciting Newcomer award for My Personal Best.[14] In 2015 Beat's Young Ambassador team in Scotland won the volunteers' award at the National Scottish Health Awards, in recognition of their contribution to improving health and wellbeing in NHS Scotland.[15]

Funding

Beat is funded from a variety of sources – from community fundraising, donations, trusts and grant applications to professional services and government grants. Often, the funding received is to focus on particular support services.

The Youthline is supported by BBC Children in Need and Comic Relief.

References
  1. Scott, Geraldine. "Eating disorder treatment has come a long way since 'brutal' methods - but future still daunting, admits charity boss". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  2. "Types of Eating Disorder". Beat. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  3. beat: A brief history of the organisation Archived November 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine (accessed 12 October 2007)
  4. "Trustees' Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2019" (PDF). 31 March 2019.
  5. "Helplines". Beat. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  6. "Echo Peer Coaching". Beat. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  7. "Current Campaigns". Beat. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  8. "Eating Disorders Awareness Week, 2-8 March 2020". Beat. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  9. "Ambassadors". Beat. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  10. "Training & CPD". Beat. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  11. "Home". Beat. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  12. The Charity Awards 2007: Healthcare and Medical Research (accessed 12 October 2007)
  13. Children & Young People Now: Children and Young People's Services Awards 2007: The Wellbeing Award Archived October 3, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (accessed 24 April 2008)
  14. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2013-08-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. "Beat's Young Ambassadors Win Prestigious Scottish Health Award". www.b-eat.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
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