Originally called the National Children's Home, and then NCH,
Action for Children was founded in 1869 by the Methodist Minister
Reverend Thomas Stephenson.
True to the founding principles of Methodism, that you should
'go not to those who need you, but to those who need you the most',
Reverend Stephenson worked with the most deprived children in
Victorian England.
From the start, he recognised the importance of the family, so
instead of setting up another institution like the orphanages and
workhouses of the time, he created a children's home. And just like
a home, he had a father and a mother to run it, and the orphans
called each other brother and sister.
This was a revolution at the time, and that spirit of
innovation, and passion for the highest quality help, has always
been at our core.
When there were no standards for children's care, we created the
first professional childcare training. When care homes were the
order of the day, we fought for them to stay with their families,
if it was safe.
We've achieved a huge amount, always evolving, always rising to
meet the new challenges of our ever-changing society, and today we
have grown into one of the largest and most vibrant children's
charities in the UK, helping literally hundreds of thousands each
year. We always aim to be there for them, no matter what they've
done, or had done to them. We always work to give them the quality
time they need to literally transform their lives.
In 2008 we changed our name to Action for Children, because
action's what's needed, and it's what we'll be striving for today,
tomorrow, and for the next 140 years, so that one day, every child
can have a decent childhood.
You can see how our logo has changed over time just like we
have.