Onomy's History

Abroad...

Even though Onomy is new, the idea and methods have been around a long time. In Switzerland alone there are 4 organisations; BESJ, EMK, CEVI and RR who do very similar work to Onomy, the oldest groups having started in 1844.

1844 - The oldest recorded groups

1953 - The first Onomy groups like we know them today were set up in Winterthur and Wil, Switzerland

1961 - The first leadership training course took place

1974 - The Swiss equivalent of the Onomy Organisation was founded (known as BESJ)

1988 - 200 Onomy groups in Swizerland alone

1992 - 3,294 participants took part in the various courses throughout the year

1999 - An organisation, Juropa is founded to help establish organisations like Onomy internationally, mostly in Europe

2002 - The number of Onomy groups in Switzerland had risen to 300

Onomy in Britain...

Nov 2008 - The idea is born to establish Onomy in Britain

July 2009 - Onomy's name and logo was thought of and designed

Oct 2009 - Stefan and Rachel Maag move to Whitby, North Yorkshire to start establishing the British branch of Onomy

July 2010 - The first Base Course took place

Aug 2010 - The first Onomy summer camp took place in Darnholm, organised by Onomy Whitby 

Nov 2010 - The first Onomy group is set up in Whitby with a team of 6 leaders