| |
Children come first
• YOUR readers may be interested to know that Highbury-based Action for Children celebrated its 140th birthday yesterday (Thursday).
We will be marking the anniversary by installing a blue memorial plaque at the site of our inaugural children’s home in Waterloo. The plaque will be unveiled by actress and long-term supporter Shirley Anne Field. Shirley was evacuated from London during the war and grew up in one of our children’s homes.
Action for Children, formerly NCH, was set up by Methodist minister the Reverend Thomas Bowman Stephenson in 1869. He was concerned about the living conditions of children in London, so established The Children’s Home, a safe, friendly environment for them in his parish near Waterloo. And with it, the charity was born.
In 1925, we then purchased a new site at Highbury Park. Initially, it contained just one building but was quickly developed to include four premises a decade later. These included a boys’ and girls’ hostel, which continued to be used until the 1970s. Nowadays, the Highbury Park site acts as the main Action for Children headquarters.
We now work with approximately 156,000 vulnerable children, young people and families across the UK and are committed to putting children at the centre of everything we do.
This involves doing everything we can to help them achieve their full potential, as well as supporting them in overcoming problems ranging from neglect and abuse to homelessness and family breakdown.
As well as unveiling the blue plaque, we will be holding birthday celebrations at many of our 420 projects and at various Methodist churches.
That way we can say thank you to each and every person who has helped keep Stephenson’s original vision alive.
If any readers would like to hear more about the history and work of Action for Children, or want to find out how to support us, we would of course welcome their interest.
They can either call us on 020 7704 7000 or www.actionforchildren.org.uk/140years.
JOHN HUGHES
Action for Children heritage development manager
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
