The drive behind Barnado’s

Press, 19 November 1982, Page 22

The drive behind Barnado’s

On the eve of the Garden City Golf Classic, sponsored by “The Press,” JOHN HARFORD describes the work of the Barnado’s organisation which is to be helped by the proceeds of the tournament.

From providing for the ne£ds of destitute children in mid-nineteenth century London, Dr Tom Barnardo’s charitable organisation has grown to offer child, and family care services throughout Britain, Australia and New Zealand.-. Proceeds from “The Press” Garden . City Golf Classic on November 20 and 21 will be used to provide Barnardo’s in Christchurch with a mini-bus. The bus will be based at Barnardo’s New Zealand’s new centre in the suburb of Richmond, and will be used to transport children to their family day-care centres. It will also help families with

transport to and from play groups and outings, and help move cots, furniture and equipment to homes. In 1866,. Tom Barnardo was a 20-year-old Irish medical; student at the London Hospital. His ambition was to'go to China as a mission-, ■Vary doctor. While training fbr his mission, he established a “ragged school” for the poor, children of Stepney, working from a disused donkey stable; : ■ As hd worked among these children he found that most ?of them had no parents and- : nobody to care for them.,.

They spent their nights huddled in haycarts, on roofs, under corrugated iron, under piles of rags in doorways, and half starved. The more he saw of the extreme poverty and need of these youngsters, the more certain he became that his true vocation lay in the East end of London, rather than in China. Dr Barnardo found homes for a few of the boys but had to leave hundreds without help. He publicised their plight and some people gave money. In 1870, he opened his first residential home, for 25 boys, in a rented house in London’s East End. Facilities were limited and he had resources to help only a few of those in need.- -. .- v ,:

for slum children has never existed in New Zealand, but there has been a need for ..increased ■ community supVport for children and fami- ' -lies. This'is the type of work undertaken by-Barnardo’s . New Zealand. . ' ~s. Help is often'iieeded when children’have .lost a parent through death: or the breakup of a marriage. A readjustment period or change of . <• environment' is needed by children after an illness or family stress. Children.'can

It was a > tragedy that made' him finally decide to stay in London and help the .children, rather than; go to China;,- V" -A “Carrots,”. a young boy’ known to Dr Barnardo, came and asked for help after his drunken mother had thrown him out of her house. The doctor’s home - was packed and overflowing that night and he was forced to turn "Carrots” away,- reasoning that the boy. was now "street-wise” enough, to sur-

vive a few more nights on his own. That night “Carrots”,, sleeping in the streets, died of cold and hunger. When he heard of the boy’s death, Dr Barnardo vowed that no destitute child would ever again be refused admission to one of his homes. Dr Barnardo died in 1905, but the Barnardo organisation continued to expand and diversify. Vast areas of extreme poverty are no longer, faced by the organisation. The welfare state has built up services to help those in need. The old Barnardo’s image of homes for destitute children is fading, and in its place a vital day care service Jias been set up. ? The need to build homes

need extra care because of physical, mental or social handicap, and families need guidance and counselling because of marital stress and financial difficulties.

Barnardo’s has developed a foster care programme, an adoption counselling service, family care schemes, child care centres, and family accommodation. Christchurch has two chil(f-care centres run by Barnardo’s. The site of the centre in Ensors Road, Opawa, is designated for motorway extensions and may soon have to close. Because of this threat,-a new’ centre in Slater Street, -Richmond, was opened in October. The centres do, not act as creches. A mother who asked staff at a centre to look after a child while she .played squash would almost certainly be turned down. The centres fill ia ■, community need, father than a want The Richmond centre is also a base for the fainily day-care programme. Under this scheme, babies and young children are looked after in;.-, the homes of selected families. Family day-care is an alternative both to centre- • based’ child;.care, and to ■.' informal minding arrange-

ments. It is particularly suitable for children who do not respond well in large groups. Through the scheme parents can be put in touch with related community services, group meetings are held for parents and those providing care, toys and equipment are provided for children, and fees can be reduced for families in need.. ’ The service is flexible and can provide occasional care, emergency care, regular part-time care, and full daycare for children. Barnardo’s also has a family support service in Aidershot Street, Aranui. This is a free service for families having difficulties with household management and family relationships. Practical help, counselling, group activities, friendship and support are offered through the service. The scheme is a co-opera-tive venture between the Government and Barnardo’s. It has a permanent, staff as well as a group of “neighbourhood workers” to work with families. " "

Barnardo’s began helping New Zealand families in 1972 from a centre in Auckland. The organisation now helps more than 400 families' a year. . . '.