We have a proud history of supporting our sector, working alongside our members and partners since 1942 to achieve our collective vision:

“A society where all children and young people are valued, protected and listened to, their rights realised and their families supported.”

2012: Celebrating 70 years of supporting our sector

Today we continue to grow and develop in response to the needs of our members and the wider children, young people and families voluntary sector. We deliver a wide range of support services, policy and representation work, networking opportunities and much more.

Our membership is the largest it has ever been and continues to grow quickly. Five of our original founder members remain in membership, and there are other organisations currently in membership with historic links to the other two founders.

2009: Children England

In December 2008 we changed our name to Children England to better reflect the diversity of our growing membership which now reaches far beyond the voluntary child care sector.

Although our name changed our values, mission and commitment to children’s rights and the children, young people and families voluntary sector remain constant throughout our work.

1970s: A growing membership

In the 1970s we began to accept regional and local members.

We also extended our membership through organisations involved in the pre-school play movement, children’s rights, support for lone parents and self-help and community-based groups.

1965: The National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations (NCVCCO)

In 1965 the seven founding organisations changed the name of their intermediary organisation to the National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations (NCVCCO) and began to accept new national members.

1942: The Constituent Societies of the National Council of Associated Children’s Homes

The Second World War stimulated reform in the way children were looked after.

Anticipating these developments, such as the 1948 Children’s Act, some voluntary organisations felt they needed to make a common cause.

In 1942 seven of them got together to form The Constituent Societies of the National Council of Associated Children’s Homes.These original members were:

• Dr. Barnardo’s Homes (Now Barnardo’s)
• The Catholic Child Welfare Council (Now Caritas Social Action network)
• The Church of England Children’s Society (Now the Children’s Society)
• The National Children’s Home (Now Action for Children)
• The Jewish Board of Guardians
• The Shaftesbury Homes and ‘Arethusa’, Training Ship (Now Shaftsbury Young People)
• The Children’s Aid Society