Action for Children

Image:Fred and George Grey.jpg

The first 'Children's Home', a renovated stable in Church Street, Waterloo, was founded in 1869 by Methodist minister Thomas Bowman Stephenson, who had been moved by the plight of children living on the street in London. The first two boys were admitted on 9 July 1869.{{cite news |author=BBC |title=A childhood worth living|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/london/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8141000/8141274.stm|date= 8 July 2009|accessdate=15 July 2010|work=BBC News}} In 1871 the home was moved to Bonner Road, Victoria Park, and girls were admitted. The home was approved by the Wesleyan Methodist Conference in the same year. A year later, in 1872, a second home opened in Edgworth, Lancashire.{{cite web|title=History of a Child in Care: Administrative Biographical History | url=http://www.theirhistory.co.uk/70001/info.php?p=13&pno=0 | accessdate=8 October 2012}}

The homes were divided into small family units run by a 'house mother' and 'house father', which was in marked contrast to the large institutions and workhouses common at the time.{{cite web| title=140 years of Action for Children | author=Action for Children | url=http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/about-us/our-history/celebrating-140-years | date= 8 July 2009 | accessdate=8 October 2012}} Training was also an important aspect. A childcare course was set up in 1878, and the graduates of this programme—who were called 'the Sisterhood' or 'the Sisters of the Children'—went on to work in the home.

An industrial school at Milton, Gravesend, was taken over in 1875, and a children's refuge in Ramsey on the Isle of Man was established in 1882. With the opening of the Princess Alice Orphanage in Birmingham the home was renamed 'Children's Home and Orphanage'.

Further properties in Alverstoke, Hampshire; Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire; Frodsham, Cheshire; and Bramhope near Leeds were acquired, and, by 1908, the charity had grown to become the 'National Children's Home and Orphanage'.

In 1913, work began on a large site in Harpenden, which became home to over 200 children, with a print works for apprentices. It subsequently became the charity's head office.{{cite web|title=National Children's Home | url=http://www.harpenden-history.org.uk/page_id__131_path__0p4p65p.aspx | publisher=Harpenden and District Local History Society | date=May 2002 | accessdate=8 October 2012}}

Many other new branches and schools were founded, including the first residential nursery branch in Sutton Coldfield in 1929 and the first Scottish branch in Glasgow in 1955. The charity became an adoption agency in 1926.

The Rev. Gordon Barritt, who became the head of NCH in 1969, started the process of closing the organisation's children's homes and starting to offer support to keep children with their families.{{cite news |last1=Philpott |first1=Terry |title=The Rev Gordon Barritt obituary: Methodist minister who as principal of National Children's Home oversaw a period of radical change |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/22/gordon-barritt |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=22 November 2015}}

In 1994, the charity changed its name to 'NCH Action for Children'. Fourteen years later, in September 2008, it became 'Action for Children'. The changes were part of the shift away from providing children's homes (most of which have now closed) to a wider range of services.{{cite web|author=CorpComms Magazine|title=Action for Children Rebranding|url=http://www.corpcommsmagazine.co.uk/news/575-best-rebranding-exercise|publisher=CorpComms Magazine|accessdate=15 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006032349/http://www.corpcommsmagazine.co.uk/news/575-best-rebranding-exercise|archive-date=6 October 2011|url-status=dead}}

In December 2016, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, succeeded The Queen as patron of the organisation.{{cite web|title=Kate Middleton Shares Emotional Letter with Charity During This 'Hugely Unsettling Time'|url=https://people.com/royals/kate-middleton-shares-emotional-letter-with-charity-during-this-hugely-unsettling-time/|url-status=live|website=People|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428024950/https://people.com/royals/kate-middleton-shares-emotional-letter-with-charity-during-this-hugely-unsettling-time/ |archive-date=28 April 2020 }}

The NCH set up a child emigration scheme in 1873, and a branch in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, opened.{{cite web |title=Memorandum by NCH Action For Children: WELFARE OF FORMER CHILD MIGRANTS |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmhealth/755/8061116.htm |publisher=House of Commons |access-date=5 July 2021 |date=1998}} This programme of sending children to Canada, where they were called Home Children, has been criticised, and children have been found to have been abused following migration.{{cite web |title=Child Migration Programmes: Investigation Report |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/702700/HC_954-II_-_IICSA_Child_Migration_Programmes_Web_Accessible.pdf |publisher=House of Commons |access-date=5 July 2021 |date=2018}}{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=David |title=Oranges and Sunshine wasn't just a false promise |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2011/apr/05/oranges-sunshine-child-migration |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=5 April 2011}} The NCH itself has said that "the experience of migration was profoundly damaging to significant numbers of the children concerned". NCH is estimated to have sent 3,500 children to Canada between 1873 and 1931 and a small number of children to Australia in the 1930s and early 1950s.{{cite web |title=Child emigration: Information sheet 10 |url=https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/archivesheet10 |publisher=National Museums Liverpool |access-date=5 July 2021}} The Independent Inquiry found that some children were sent by the NCH without their parents' consent, and that some children who wanted to come back to the UK were not allowed by the NCH to do so. The inquiry concluded that, although the NCH's principles of care had been ambitious for the time, some children were placed in "harsh conditions":

{{Blockquote|text=The NCH put more measures in place than other institutions to monitor the care being afforded to child migrants. This allowed them to appreciate the poor care being provided to some child migrants in Australia. They then took the commendable decision to halt migration promptly in light of the concerns raised.

Nevertheless, we consider that NCH’s failure during the migration period to ensure that it received more regular reports from the receiving institutions meant that it could not be properly satisfied about some aspects of the care provided. This included the quality and number of staff, and the punishment regimes in place.

The Inquiry also finds that, although the NCH stopped migrating children due to concerns about the adverse conditions, it did not bring back to the UK those children previously migrated.

In these respects, the NCH failed to take sufficient care to protect child migrants from the risk of sexual abuse.}}

The organisation continues to offer an information and record-access service to people who were sent overseas as children under its auspices.

File:Family from another place by David Worthington 03.jpg, 2010. Red Iranian Travertine stone, Great Queen Street, London.]]

Action for Children works in partnership with statutory bodies to deliver services for children, young people, and their families in five main areas:

Action for Children is a major provider of family support services and works in partnership with local authorities across the UK. The aim is to facilitate early intervention and then offer long-term help so families can stay together if possible. This is provided through children's and family centres, parenting programmes, and targeted intervention initiatives, often with the hardest-to-reach groups in the community.{{cite web |author=Action for Children |title=Family support |url=http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/our-services/family-support |publisher=Action for Children |accessdate=2 February 2012}}

Action for Children runs specialist projects for disabled children and those with learning and behavioural difficulties. These include residential care, short breaks and respite care services, keyworker support for families and carers, and advocacy work to help young disabled people transition into adulthood.{{cite web |author=Action for Children |title=Disabled children |url=http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/our-services/disabled-children |publisher=Action for Children |accessdate=2 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122105010/http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/our-services/disabled-children |archive-date=22 January 2012 |url-status=dead}}

Action for Children is a registered adoption agency and delivers fostering programmes. The charity also runs a number of small residential units for children and young people, as well as supporting young care leavers moving into independent living.{{cite web |author=Action for Children |title=Children in care services|url=http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/our-services/adoption-fostering-and-children-in-care/children-in-care|publisher=Action for Children |accessdate=2 February 2012}}

Action for Children works with vulnerable and disadvantaged young people. Issues these young people may face include alcohol and substance misuse, anti-social behaviour, homelessness, and unemployment. Other services offer support for young carers, teenage parents, victims of sexual abuse, and those leaving young offenders institutions. This support is provided through a range of services, which offer counselling, help with housing and benefits, access to training and education, basic skills tuition, mediation, and mentoring.{{cite web |author=Action for Children |title=Young people |url=http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/our-services/young-people |publisher=Action for Children |accessdate=2 February 2012}}{{better source needed|reason=primary source|date=December 2020}}

Action for Children runs a number of schools for children and young people with disabilities, profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) and challenging behaviour (including social or emotional problems). The charity's aim is to offer a secure environment in which to facilitate educational, social and personal development adapted to pupils' individual abilities. The schools offer both residential placements and day care.{{cite web|author=Action for Children|title=Our schools|url=http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/our-services/our-schools|publisher=Action for Children|accessdate=2 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120101184142/http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/our-services/our-schools|archive-date=1 January 2012|url-status=dead}}

Action for Children carries out and commissions research into issues around children, young people and families.{{cite web|author=Action for Children |title=Research |url=http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/policy-research/research |publisher=Action for Children |accessdate=24 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522110928/http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/policy-research/research |archivedate=22 May 2011 }}

The charity also produces a yearly Impact Report,{{cite web |author=Action for Children |title=Impact Report |url=http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/policy-research/impact-report |accessdate=16 February 2012}} which details research findings on the outcomes and cost effectiveness of its work supporting children and young people.

File:Byte Night 2014 - Action for Children fund raiser held in London (15536183871) (2).jpg

Action for Children campaigns and lobbies governments on behalf of vulnerable children and young people and their families.

One of the charity's current campaigns, 'Best Start in Life', seeks to address the issue of children – particularly those from poorer backgrounds – struggling to receive the right early years support. The campaign calls on the government to take urgent action so that children under five do not fall behind, either due to cuts in vital services or unequal access to opportunities.{{Cite web |url=https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/how-to-help/support-our-campaigns/best-start-in-life/ |title=Action for Children 'Best Start in Life' campaign |access-date=7 January 2019 |archive-date=8 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108045709/https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/how-to-help/support-our-campaigns/best-start-in-life/ |url-status=dead }}

Action for Children is a member of the Disabled Children's Partnership alongside 27 other charities, working towards better health and social care for disabled children, young people and their families.{{cite web |title=About Us: The Disabled Children's Partnership |url=https://disabledchildrenspartnership.org.uk/about-us |publisher=The Disabled Children’s Partnership |access-date=5 July 2021}}{{cite news |title=Unprecedented coalition of UK charities unite to tackle inequality for disabled children and their families (Press Release) |url=http://enablemagazine.co.uk/unprecedented-coalition-uk-charities-unite-tackle-inequality-disabled-children-families |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=enable |date=17 March 2017}}{{better source needed|reason=primary source and press release|date=July 2021}}

The charity also leads the children and families work of the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness and is a partner of End Child Poverty.{{cite news |title=New campaign to combat loneliness launches |url=https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/article/new-campaign-to-combat-loneliness-launches |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=Nursery World |date=16 November 2017}}{{cite news |title=UK must tackle loneliness, says Jo Cox Commission report |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42354807 |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=BBC News |date=14 December 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Finan |first1=Victoria |title=Third of Yorkshire's children living in poverty, "deeply worrying" new figures reveal |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/health/third-of-yorkshires-children-living-in-poverty-deeply-worrying-new-figures-reveal-3241776 |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=19 May 2021}}

Action for Children is a founding member of Fostering Through Social Enterprise (FtSE), a consortium of voluntary and non-profit fostering agencies that advocate for children in respect of regulation, as well as representing its membership at central government level.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

Action for Children raises money through corporate partnerships, fundraising events (such as sponsored runs) and through its partnership with the British Methodist Church.{{cite web |title=Our Methodist partnership |url=https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/what-we-do/about-us/our-methodist-partnership/ |publisher=Action for Children |accessdate=2 October 2018 |language=en}}

The charity is also involved with several large fundraising events, including Byte Night{{cite web |title=Byte Night |url=http://www.bytenight.org.uk |publisher=Action for Children |accessdate=16 February 2012}} – an IT industry event which raises money to prevent youth homelessness – and Never Mind The Business, a music-based quiz night for business people.

In 2018, Action for Children launched its Secret Santa fundraising campaign.[https://secretsanta.actionforchildren.org.uk/ Action for Children's Secret Santa fundraising campaign, launched 2018]{{better source needed|reason=primary source|date=December 2020}} The campaign encouraged the public to become a Secret Santa for a vulnerable child, donating £10 or more to support children in the UK at Christmas.

Because of its links to the Methodist Church, which opposes gambling, before 2003 Action for Children did not accept National Lottery funding.{{cite news |last1=Nair |first1=Sunil |title=Children win: NCH says 'yes' to lottery funding |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2003/jan/08/charityfinance.guardiansocietysupplement |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=8 January 2003}}

In 2000 and 2002, the organisation was criticised, including by its own staff, for accepting funding from BAE Systems, an arms manufacturer.{{cite news |last1=Ramrayka |first1=Liza |title=Purse strings: Just take the money or worry about where it's coming from? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2000/oct/11/fundraising.guardiansocietysupplement |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=11 October 2000}}{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Rob |last2=Wilson |first2=Jamie |title=Children's charity staff angry at arms firm donation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2002/aug/05/charities.arms |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=5 August 2002}}{{cite book|last=Moore|first=Stephen|title=Social Welfare Alive!|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fqtyx4tbZZUC&pg=PA245|accessdate=5 July 2021|year=2002|publisher=Nelson Thornes|isbn=978-0-7487-6561-4|page=245}}

• Clare Tickell
• Walter Tull

{{reflist}}

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• [http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/ Action for Children's website]
• [http://childrenshomes.org.uk/NCH/ A history of the NCH and details of each of its branches]
• [http://www.theirhistory.co.uk/ Information about the history of NCH branches]
• [http://growingupinthench.lefora.com/ Forum for former NCH residents]
• [https://www.theguardian.com/society/gallery/2009/jul/09/action-for-children-anniversary?picture=349892814 Guardian image gallery showing the charity’s history]

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Category:1869 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Children's charities based in the United Kingdom

Category:Methodism

Category:Youth charities based in the United Kingdom