Historic charity whose UK story began in Yorkshire in 1880 takes on new name

A social care charity whose British story began in Yorkshire more than 140 years ago is entering a new chapter as The Do Good Charity.

One of the UK’s longest-established social care charities, Saint John of God Hospitaller Services (SJOG) originated in North Yorkshire in 1880.

Its roots go back even further – more than 450 years - when Saint John of God dedicated his life to caring for the poor and sick. The religious order that grew from his work became known in Italy as the Fatebenefratelli – the “Do Good Brothers”.

Founded in 1572, the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God is now present in over 50 countries over five continents and supports the lives of more than 7 million people a year.

Work in the UK began when the French Province of the Order received an invitation to take possession of buildings in Scorton, a small village in the North Riding of Yorkshire.

The idea was to create a foundation for ‘unwanted people’, disabled people and a new hospital for the old and infirm.

Today the charity continues to support people in North Yorkshire, with supported-living services at Scorton, Catterick and Leyburn.

The organisation has now become The Do Good Charity – a name inspired by the centuries-old mission behind its work.

Nationally, The Do Good Charity now supports more than 1,800 people every month across 60 communities and provides housing, care and specialist support for disabled and autistic people, people with complex needs and older people.

The organisation describes itself as one of the largest social care charities many people ‘have never heard of’.

Until now, the UK charity says it deliberately adopted the quiet approach of its founder and didn’t actively promote its name.

Paul Bott, chief executive said: “SJOG was familiar to the people who already knew us, but it did not necessarily tell someone encountering us for the first time who we were or what we stood for.

“The Do Good Charity puts our purpose into plain English and, importantly, it is also an invitation. We’ve been quietly doing good since 1880. Now we need people to know who we are because we want to do more of it, and share the things we have learnt. We want more people, communities, charities, supporters and partners to work with us so that together we can do more.”

The charity supports people to live as independently as possible, with its supported-living approach designed around personal choice, community participation and helping people develop the skills and confidence to shape their own lives.

While the public-facing identity is changing, the charity says its fundamental approach will remain the same. Hospitality, compassion and respect remain its core values, with support built around the individual rather than a standardised model.

Paul added: “It’s a new name, but the same heart since 1880. The 500-year-old philosophy of hospitality is still the bedrock of our work.”

Its approach to hospitality begins with a simple welcome – recognising that staff are guests in the lives of the people they support and asking: “How can we help?”

For the fifth consecutive year, 100% of its CQC-regulated services were rated Good or Outstanding across all areas.