Notes on Barnardo Bibliography

35. Church, Diane Barnardo's Oxford: Heinemann's, 1997

A large but quite thin hardback book with a colourful front showing a young child, head and shoulders, below the title in large white letters. It was published by Heinemann Library as part of the 'Taking Action' Series, and royalties from sales are donated as contributions to Barnardo's. The author was a member of the Barnardo's staff.

The 32 pages cover some 30 aspects of Barnardo's work, and also provide a page of further useful information such as addresses and contact numbers, a glossary of words often used in social work, and an index.

Each topic is presented as a two page spread with bold and colourful type-set and photgraphs of good size, clarity, and colour.

At the beginning the problem is clearly stated: there are still many thousands of children in our society who are seriously in need of help; Thomas Barnardo began his work of helping destitute children that were around him in the streets of East London in the 19th century, and Barnardo's continues to help needy children within and around their homes in the 20th.

Among 250 local projects the care of a seriously disabled child at home, the preparation of a child for the impending death of his mother, the assistance of a child overburdened with the care of her ill parent, the finding of home for a displaced family, and the successful placement in a foster home of a six year old, are given full page spreads, mingled with the activities of Barnardo's staff members such as a Project Leader, a Fund Raiser, and a Press Officer, and the place for lobbying the government on behalf of children's needs and rights, and the populace at large for their help and opinions.

This book makes the need for Barnardo's today as abundantly clear as their difference from those that were met in the 19th century.



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