Dr Barnardo How is this Victorian man still helping people? Born July 4th 1845 Died September 19th 1905

Thomas John Barnardo was born on 4th July 1845 in Dublin in Ireland. When he was sixteen years old he decided he wanted to go to China and tell people about God and help the poorly people. To do this he had to move to London to learn how to be a doctor.

When he was in London he found out that there was a lot of poor people. There was a lot of disease and children had no one to look after them. He couldn’t believe how many children were living on the streets and begging for food. He decided not to go to China because he wanted to look after the poor children in London.

He opened a ragged school in 1867, in London, to teach and care for poor orphans. One of his pupils, a boy called Jim Jarvis, took Barnardo on a walk of the East End, showing him the number of poor children sleeping on the streets and the roof tops. Barnardo was really upset so he decided to do something about it. How did he help the children?

What did he do next? He opened a home for boys. He use to go and find boys who were living on the streets and take them to the home. This was against the law. They taught boys how to do carpentry, metal work and shoemaking so they could get jobs and they wouldn’t have to live on the streets anymore.

Carrots Barnardo use to say only so many boys could go in one of the homes but… One night, an 11-year old boy called John Somers, who had the nickname ‘Carrots’, was turned away because the home was full. Carrots was found dead two days later Dr Barnardo was really sad and promised he would never turn a child away again.

How did he help girls? In 1873 Thomas Barnardo got married. They were given a big house for the poor children as a wedding present. Barnardo opened The Girls Village Home at Mossford Lodge. By 1900 there were 65 cottages at the home, a school, a hospital and a church with lots of garden.

Mossford lodge had lots of cottages, a school, a library and even a hospital for the girls.

Why did he help the disabled? Thomas and Syrie had seven children. Their daughter Marjorie was born with Down’s Syndrome. Dr Barnardo loved Marjorie and he cared for her and this made him want to help disabled children. The charity looked after children with physical or learning disabilities and had special homes for children like Marjorie.

Why do I think this is an important Victorian? I think that this man is important because he was very brave and kind to look after children that he didn’t know, even if it meant that he was breaking the law! He bought them a house and made sure they could get a job like he was their dad! He looked after poor and disabled children when nobody else would, not even the leaders of the country. He made children feel like they were important and made them happy. I think he was a bit like Jesus because he cared about the people who no one stood up for!

Barnardo’s today The Barnardo’s charity is still here today nearly 150 years after Barnardo opened the first boys home. They still have homes and help children who are going through difficult times. I think the nearest Barnardo’s home to our school is in Burnley If you want to help you could look through your cupboards and see if you have anything to donate.