A story of British Home Children in just 20 objects nu 13.......... speaking out against migrating children

The Manchester Guardian, October 5 1907

A story of British Home Children in just 20 objects which are in no particular order, have been selected purely at random and will reflect one of many different stories.

Not everyone involved with the care of children in Britain agreed that migrating poor, destitute and abused children to Canada was the right policy.

Three of those who campaigned against the practice were the three socialist Guardians on the board of the Chorlton Union.

The Chorlton Union was responsible for the administration of the Poor Law across south Manchester and had within its care groups of young children.

Dr and Mrs Garret along with Thomas Skivington opposed the policy arguing that it there was not sufficient monitoring of the children migrated, that there were cases of abuse and that there was evidence that some children were deeply unhappy.

Futhermore the employment of young children in Canada contradicted British law governing children at work, was often a means for providing cheap labour and above all ignored the need to address poverty and child abuse in Britain.

The three also campaigned against the petty but often cruel practices of the workhouse.

Thomas Skivington was also active in the unemployment campaigns of the early 20th century as well as arguing for a more just and equal society.*

The Garrett’s went on to establish a clinic in north Wales for working class children suffering from the unhealthy conditions in the city.**

Picture; from the Manchester Guardian October 5th 1907

*Lives revealed, commitments rediscovered
 http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/lives-revealed-commitments-rediscovered.html

** Dr Garrett, http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/wales/archive/bbc-north-west-wales-conwy-dr-garretts-childrens-home-history.pdf