Our History Since our relatively modest beginnings in Mile End in 1795, we have helped many thousands of people. The ways we work have changed over the centuries but our motivation remains the same: to do what we can to help people change their lives for the better. READ MORE ABOUT OUR HISTORY A History of Norwood Norwood has its roots in a boarding school set up more than 200 years ago in Mile End for poor Jewish children. Read more Norwood Old Scholars Association Old Scholars helps people who grew up in Norwood's care to keep in touch. Read more