Barnardos

Who We Are

Barnardo’s is one of the UK’s largest and most established children’s charities, founded in 1866.

The organisation supports children, young people, and families facing vulnerability, abuse, neglect, poverty, and exploitation.

It operates across the United Kingdom, delivering both community-based and residential support services.

Its mission is focused on helping children feel safer, happier, healthier, and more hopeful about their futures.

What We Do

• Provide family support services to strengthen parenting and household stability.
• Deliver child protection and safeguarding interventions for at-risk children.
• Offer foster care services and adoption support programs.
• Run youth services, including mental health support, counselling, and mentoring.
• Support children affected by domestic abuse, exploitation, and neglect.
• Provide education support, early intervention, and community outreach programs.
• Deliver specialist services for children with disabilities, additional needs, and complex vulnerabilities.

Approach & Values

• Operates with a strong commitment to child-centred care and safeguarding excellence.
• Focuses on early intervention, aiming to prevent long-term harm and disadvantage.
• Promotes equality, inclusion, and protection for all children and young people.
• Emphasises trauma-informed care approaches in all support services.
• Works in partnership with local authorities, schools, healthcare providers, and communities.
• Maintains high standards of transparency, accountability, and ethical practice as a registered charity.

Industry Role

• Plays a leading role in the UK children’s social care and welfare sector.
• Supports national systems for child protection, fostering, and family services.
• Helps reduce pressure on local authority social services through early intervention programs.
• Contributes to improving outcomes for vulnerable children through long-term support and advocacy.
• Influences national policy and practice in child welfare and safeguarding systems.