Barnardo's

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Barnardo's is a British based charity founded by Doctor Thomas John Barnardo in 1866 to care for vulnerable children and young people. As of 2004, it spends over £100 million each year on a wide variety of projects aimed at helping the same groups. Barnardo's is based in Barkingside in the London Borough of Redbridge in East London.

The charity was established when its founder Thomas Barnardo opened a school in the East End of London to care for and educate children of the area left orphaned and destitute by the recent cholera outbreak. In 1870 he founded an orphanage in Stepney Causeway with the same goals. By the time of his death in 1905, Barnardo's institutions cared for over 8,500 children in 96 locations. His work was carried on by his many supporters under the name Dr Barnardo's Homes.

Following societal changes in the mid 20th century, the charity changed its focus from the direct care of children to fostering and adoption, renaming itself Dr Barnardo's. Following the closure of its last traditional orphanage in 1989 it took the still simpler name of Barnardo's.

H.M. Queen Elizabeth II is the current patron of Barnardo's. Its Chief Executive is Martin Narey, formerly head of the National Offender Management Service. His appointment was warmly welcomed by staff at Barnardo's and in the wider children's sector.

Today, the charity also works with disabled children, victims of sexual abuse, mental health problems, homeless children, and children and young people affected by HIV and AIDS.

[edit] Children of Dr. Barnardo's Homes

Recording of Where Did My Snowman Go with Petula Clark

During the 1950s, children from the homes made some significant recordings. Their biggest claim to fame was featuring on Petula Clark's 1952 recording of Where Did My Snowman Go. They also made some other recordings as a vocal group for Polygon and Pye Nixa.

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