Action for Children (formerly National Children's Homes)

Members of the Circuit are supporters of the Action for Children charity. The charity was founded in 1869 when a Methodist Minister, Thomas Bowman Stephenson and his friends Francis Horner and Alfred Mager opened The Children's Home at 8 Church St, London. Radically different from the hated workhouse, Stephenson's vision was of a home, based around a 'mother' and a 'father', where the boys were treated with affection and respect.

Thomas Bowman Stephenson

Expanding to take in girls as well, The Children's Home moved to Bonner Rd, Bethnal Green in 1871, and a second home was established at Edgworth Farm on the Lancashire moors in 1872.

By 1908, the charity had grown to become the National Children's Home and Orphanage (later the National Children's Home, and then simply NCH), becoming an adoption agency in 1926 and expanding to work outside the UK in 1969.  Today it is one of the UK's leading children's charities, committed to helping the most vulnerable children and young people break through injustice, deprivation and inequality, so they can achieve their full potential. They also support work in southern Africa, the Caribbean and Central America.

In 2008, the name of the charity was changed to one that better reflects what they do and what they value – Action for Children

Joan Wrigley is the circuit co-ordinator secretary for Action for Children and would welcome anyone interested in helping to arrange events.

Trinity Methodist Church has a very supportive group who, during the year, organise an Easter Breakfast which has become a regular fund raiser and has a good following. There is also the Trinity Post which is organised every year by two of our church members, who arrange for the distribution within the town and church for Christmas cards being sent by church members making a donation to Action for Children.

Steuart Kellington has arranged for the choir from the churches together, to sing, usually on Clitheroe market and again donations from the visitors to the market and the stall-holders are all sent to Action for Children. At Christmas we also give the collection from the carol service or Christmas day service and following the carol service the members of the committee prepare and serve mince pies and coffee/tea, this has become a tradition over the years and we hope to continue to do this and more to help vulnerable families for as long as it takes.  

These events are easy to arrange so if other churches in the Circuit can do the same or anything else in their church please let Joan know on 01200 424610 or e-mail pjwrigley@talktalk.net  The Chairman of the committee is Roland Hailwood 01200 424240 and the Treasurer is Janet Hargreaves 01200 441385 who also receives donations in memory of loved ones who wish to help carry on the vital work of Action for Children.

For more information visit the website of Action for Children.