A century of caring. Part 1, The Beginning.

Made for the National Children's Homes, this documentary looks at a hundred years of children's homes between 1869 and 1969. Part one, The Beginning uses a dramatic reconstruction to show how the first children's homes were set up in Lambeth in 1869, as well as referring to photographs and stories of some of the first boys to live in the homes. Part two, The Expansion, looks at further children's homes which sprang up all over the UK. Again, archival photographs and films illustrate the section. The opening of the first children's home for disabled children at Chipping Norton in Oxford is covered. Part three moves into the present day and features a dramatic reconstruction of how a child might end up in care in the 1960s as well as case studies from real children in care. A further dramatic reconstruction tells the story of how a very young couple end up with an unwanted pregnancy and the baby is put into care. We see footage from Chipping Norton today, which is still a disabled children's home. This part features thalidomider, Geoff Adams-Spink, whose mother discusses giving birth to a severely disabled child and her decision to send him to a residential school. We also see footage of David, a man brought up in Chipping Norton and now living a full and active life with his own family. Part four goes on to look at the future of children's homes.