A large green hardback book of 157 pages divided into 9 sections and interleaved throughout with a magnificent assembly of illustrations ranging from early archival photographs, etchings, and engravings of documentary, publicity, or illustrative value, to modern pictures and posters of a similar value. The dust-cover has sample illustrations of the same range, with the addition of the front fold-over notice cogently outlining the essence of this publication, and the back fold-over notice stating the author's posts within Barnardo's, the business world, and academia, that qualify him well to write it.

The contents are presented in an unusual form: there is a fly leaf with title, and a double-spread across an eloquently expressve dated photograph of a child being presented to a nurse, on the reverse of which is a small colourful picture of the Queen, waving, and presumably at a Barnardo function, opposite to which is a short statement from Her Majesty, with apt support for this publication marking the centenary of Barnardo's death. Overleaf is a head and shoulder picture of Cherie Blair, opposite to which is her statement as Barnardo's President, witnessing to the value of Dr Barnardo's work of a century ago in shaping the Barnardo's of today, and supporting this publication as presenting that work in its breadth and depth, and then a further page with a small snap of Barnardo children, presumably celebrating, under a dedicatory paragraph to Barnardo's staff and volunteers. The customary title reverse page with the formalities of copyright and ISBN is at the end of the book, and includes the information that publication is by Barnardo's, at the Headquarters, which could also be seen as maintaining another century-old tradition that Barnardo started.

The book has an extensive index, and passing mentions of sources in the text, in addition to formal mentions in the Acknowledgements, indicating wide research despite an overall presentation not primarily academic.

Comment: A presentation befitting a centenary celebration.

Section 1 is given to the Third Sector, a term to distinguish the Charities from the Private and Public Sectors, and many salient features of well-known Charities are mentioned, from the modern day participation of young voluntary workers, business expertise, and money, to the ethical origins in the caritas of the Christian bible, to which is added referral to the tenable position of the Welfare State contained in the quotation from Lord Beveridge in 1942 which heads this section: A good society depends not on the state but on its citizens, acting on motives of various kinds, some selfish, others unselfish, some narrow and material, others inspired by love of man and love of God. The happiness or unhappiness of the society in which we live depends upon ourselves as citizens, not on the instrument of political power which we call the state.

Much has changed since the Dr Barnardo's Homes of a century ago and the evangelical Christian zeal of their Founder; the author makes the points that Barnardo's no longer runs Homes for orphans, yet its annual services to children in need have multiplied by ten times. In Section 2 titled 'The Happiest Days of your Life?'he outlines the origin and extent of deprivation among the children of East London a century ago, in very effective words and superb illustrations, attributing today's fame of 'Dr Barnardo's Homes' more to the immensity of his achievement than to his 'flamboyant egocentricity'. Among illustrations of children on the streets and in factories, Victorian moral rectitude and illegitimacy, he includes the striking etching 'The Nemesis of Neglect' from Punch in 1888 in which 'Jack the Ripper' epitomizes crime alongside deprivation in East London, and among the many named writers and philanthropists who commented on the situation, none so directly involved as Barnardo, who drew upon it for so much of his work with children.

Very succinctly the author outlines the help given to destitute children by orphanges, emigration to the colonies, and boarding out to families for foster care, in all of which Barnardo was an outstanding participator. His achievements are placed in relationship to other philanthropists of similar aims and ability, with politicians and the Poor Laws, with the great Reporters and the welfare State, and with the changes in the psychosociology of children. His inclusion of Janet Hitchman's reservations on boarding out, as opposed to institutional care for homeless children, signifies the recognition of individual requirements, as with all modern social care.

The allocation of Section 3 to Thomas John Barnardo provides for the presentation of his person rather than his work, and begins by listing the many contradictions between the two, with effect. The biograpical pages succinctly and effectively bring together previous accounts, and much information is added or emphasised again through the illustrations. Noted in particular is fine use of the written word, and superb organisation - features that Barnardo himself instigated and developed to promote his ends. Furthermore, in addition to assessing so ably features of Barnardo's roles revealed during the Arbitration enquiry, the author includes much interesting detail of how he ran both his office and his home life.

Section 4, 'The Winds of Change', is as much actual as premonitory, and includes closure of many of the institutional activities, introduction of distinguished Patrons and Presidents, the last of the Emigration Parties, and alterations in management and the Council, enabling Section 5 to introduce the many current modes of child care now undertaken by Barnardo's, again with abundant illustrations supporting this kaleidospic presentation.

'Raising the Wind' is an interesting metaphor for the modern practises of fund-raising presented in Section 6, and the question 'What Works?' that heads Section 7 is the important one, which Barnardo's have been answering in the form of sociological studies and authoritative publication in the last decade.

Section 8, 'Passing the Baton' features the many who have taken on the task of child care in Barnardo's organisation - from the time when thoughtful philanthropists and their colleagues moved from the Arbitration's deliberations to the recommended Committee and Council, and from thence to further eminent Chairmen, members, and countless staff throughout the years; and so to modern team members and management, all continuing to deliver care.

Comment: A millenial achievement.

Return to Barnardo Bibliography (click)