Beat History

Beat began life as the Eating Disorders Association (EDA) in 1989 when two local charities, Anorexic Aid founded by Dr Pat Hartley and Anorexic Family Aid founded by Mrs Nancy Pearce merged to form the UK’s first national organisation devoted to eating disorders.  Both charities had noticed an urgent need for information, help and support and EDA developed to support people affected by bulimia and binge eating as well as anorexia.

In 1992, a third charity merged with EDA – the Society for the Advancement of Research into Anorexia – SARA. 

In February 2007 following extensive consultation with our service users and young people we launched our new Beat name and logo with a new vision – that eating disorders will be beaten.

Beat seeks to build on the reputation that EDA established 22 years ago, to prove our commitment to the work EDA began, and to drive forward with an increased impact.  We retain a commitment to supporting research by collaborating in research studies, encouraging people to take part in trials and by promoting evidence based treatment.

1989

Anorexia Family Aid and Anorexic Aid merge, forming the Eating Disorders Association

1990

HRH The Princess of Wales visited EDA’s Norwich Headquarters at Sackville Place 

1991

EDA membership tops 3,000 for the first time

EDA Youthline service starts, opening 3 days per week

1992

EDA holds its first training course for healthcare professionals

1993

European Eating Disorders Review is launched

SARA (Society for the Advancement of Research into Anorexia) merges with EDA

1994

EDA Norwich staff levels rise to 4 full- time and 12 part-time

1995

EDA wins £32,000 lottery funding for the Youthline services

1996

The first major EDA fundraising event is held at Lambeth Palace

1997

EDA information is available on the internet for the first time

1998

EDA answers 11,500 phone calls on the helpline

EDA responds in the media to the findings of Dr Anne Becker et al’s study in Fiji researching media impact on eating disorders by saying that the media does not cause eating disorders but the media world needs to be more responsible

1999

The EDA helpline recruits its first paid staff

Lena Zavaroni dies on 1^st October aged 35 after a long battle with anorexia

2000

EDA launches its own website www.edauk.com

2001

EDA receives a major donation from the October Club

2002

EDA releases its first eating disorders educational resource It’s Not about Food, It’s About Feelings

2003

The Eating Disorders National Awards (EDNAs) are launched in October

2004

EDNet conference held in London, developing EDAs relationship with health care professionals

NICE guidance on eating disorders is published

2005

The first Young Ambassadors are recruited

 

2006

EDA is awarded its first large scale funding from the Big Lottery Fund for Young People’s Participation work

2007

EDA rebrands as Beat

Keira Knightly and Kate Winslet both make donations to Beat

2008

British Fashion Council and Beat collaborate.  Training is provided for model bookers throughout the fashion industry

2009

Beat Cymru is funded by the Big Lottery Fund to create support services for people in Wales

Beat works with the Royal College of Psychiatrists to create quality assurance standards for eating disorder services

2010

Beat celebrates its 21^st anniversary year

The first memorial service dedicated to lives lost to eating disorders is held at Southwark Cathedral