The Children’s Society was established in Britain in 1881 as ‘The Waifs and Strays Society’. From 1925 to 1961 they were involved in sending a total of around 400 children from their Homes in Britain to Australia. Children from The Children’s Society homes emigrated under schemes operated by The Fairbridge Society, The Church of England Advisory Council of Empire Settlement, Northcote Children’s Emigration Fund, the Big Brother Movement, and The Church Army.
A brief history on The Children’s Society website says that they developed a series of cottage homes rather than large institutions. Information about these Homes is listed on The Children’s Society’s historical website, ‘Hidden Lives’.
The Children’s Society gave evidence about its child migration practices to the Select Committee into Child Migration, Legislative Assembly, Parliament of Western Australia (1996).
In their 1998 evidence to the British parliament’s Inquiry into the Welfare of Former British Child Migrants, The Children’s Society stated they had a ‘post-adoption and care service’ which included enquiries about child migration. Information about the impact on former child migrants and ongoing service needs was included in the Memorandum tabled in evidence about this service.
From
1881
To
Current
Alternative Names
The Church of England Incorporated Society for Providing Homes for Waifs and Strays
The Waifs and Strays Society
Church of England Children’s Society
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