The Barnardo Story
Barnardo's Today
Today, Barnardo's runs more than 400 services across the UK including: centres and play schemes for children in poverty; counselling for children who have been abused, sexually exploited, or who self-harm; day and residential schools for those with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties; support for young carers; fostering and adoption services; projects for disabled children; practical help for young people leaving care; help for women and children suffering from domestic violence; parenting courses; and support for homeless young people and for families in temporary accommodation. The charity works with more than 100,000 children, young people and their families each year and employs more than 7,000 staff, with more than 1,000 volunteers working in its children's services, fund-raising groups and 70 charity shops. There are also independent Barnardo's charities in the Republic of Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
In contrast to the obsessive secrecy that Barnardo's once maintained with regard to the family backgrounds of children passing through its care, it now allows them (or their descendants) access to their original records. For individuals whose adoption was arranged by the charity, its Making Connections service provides support from a social worker.
This website contains separate pages on the many individual former Barnardo homes. To locate a particular one, use the Search facility towards the top of this page, or view the entire list arranged by location.
Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.