Catch22 history

Catch22 – a modern charity with an illustrious past.

Here is the timeline of events leading to the formation of Catch22 in 2008. 

1788 The Philanthropic Society starts over a cup of coffee.

1832 The Philanthropic School at Redhill opens. With the belief that their work would be more successful away from the streets of London, out in the clean country air, the Society opened a residential school.

1839 A school was established in Mettray near Tours in France and a European movement was begun.

1854 An Act of Parliament allows the court to refer young offenders to the Philanthropic Society Reformatory as an alternative to prison. Reformation was added to the Society’s aims along with prevention and the Society goes into partnership with the Government who gave money for the boys placed at the school.

1876 Frederic Rainer a journeyman printer, and a volunteer with the Church of England Temperance Society wrote to the Society of his concern about the lack of help and hope for those who come before the courts. He gives five shillings and starts the London Police Court Mission (LPCM).

1907 The LPCM staff become ‘officers of the court’ becoming the national Probation Service in 1938.

1960 The LPCM is renamed the Rainer Foundation

1986 The Royal Philanthropic Society closes the Redhill school.

1988 Crime Concern was set up by the Home Secretary, Douglas Hurd to help the Home Office, the police and local authorities to reduce crime and make communities safer.

1997 The Royal Philanthropic Society and the Rainer Foundation merge to form RPSRainer, changing its name in 2003 to Rainer.

1998 A training provider that had been run by Portsmouth City Council joined the charity

2002–2006 Other charities become part of Rainer. The DIVERT Trust - a mentoring charity for young people leaving care, the NLCAS – support for research and good practice and Communities that Care – an evidenced based community programme promoting the social development and preventing problem behaviours of young people.

2008 Rainer and Crime Concern merge to become Catch22.

Further information on The Royal Philanthropic Society, including tracing of ancestors at the Philanthropic School at Redhill, can be found at The Surrey History Centre. The Rainer Foundation archives are held by Galleries of Justice.

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