Missing links
Our charity partner, Action for Children, has launched a nationwide search to find the descendants of some of the earliest children to be taken into their care.
The charity, which turns 150 this year, has already found relatives of some of the first children to live in children’s homes set up by Thomas Bowman Stephenson in 1869, some of whom were interviewed on BBC1’s One Show.
They have now released a fascinating archive of historic pictures, showing vulnerable children from Victorian Britain from 1869 through to 1919, in the hope that people might recognise relatives and discover more about a previously unknown link in their family history.
The children pictured were all taken into care by National Children’s Homes – now Action for Children – to avoid being condemned to the workhouse or a life on the streets.
Chris Barned from East London is the great, great grandson of George Oliver, who was the first boy to be looked after by Action for Children in 1869 at Stephenson’s first children’s home in Lambeth.
‘It’s been fascinating finding out about this part of my family history,’ said Chris. ‘Discovering that he was the very first child ever taken in by the charity has been a huge surprise - especially when I realised he lived in East London.
‘We’ve been walking the same streets as him for years with no idea there was such an emotional connection. I’m very proud to find out about his story, and to know that he went on to live a long and happy life.
‘To see pictures of him as a child really has been amazing and there’s a strong family resemblance between George and my Dad which has been incredible to see.’
Victorian Britain was a time of widespread poverty - with many orphaned, neglected and abandoned children, including those with disabilities or from workhouse families, sleeping rough. The creation of small children’s homes by Stephenson meant that they were fed, cared for, and had somewhere safe to sleep every night.
Britain has obviously come a long way since Victorian times, but even today we're seeing families living in poverty and struggling to feed their children. Action for Children’s search for the families of these children aims to remember their lives, and explore the issues that affect vulnerable children both then and now.
If you happen to recognise one of the children in the photos you can email 150@actionforchildren.org.uk. Some of Action for Children’s records are incomplete, but the charity has said that they will share any information they can find in their archives.
