Our history
NCB was founded in 1963, as the National
Bureau for Cooperation in Child Care, reflecting the growing social
concern over the treatment of neglected children and the
realisation of the importance of preventative work. Improving the
education and training of childcare staff, anxiety over adoption
and fostering procedures, and concerns over child health and
education, were also contributing factors to the creation of the
organisation.
Funding was received from several charitable
trusts including the Leverhulme Trust, the Carnegie UK Trust and
the Buttle Trust, the London County Council and 12 of the larger
voluntary societies.
The workforce then consisted of three research
staff and Mia Kellmer Pringle, NCB’s first chief executive.
Our founder members were 111 local authorities
from England, Scotland and Wales, 83 voluntary and professional
organisations and 37 individual supporters.
In 1970 the organisation changed its name to
the National Children’s Bureau.
The issues and concerns that led to the
founding of NCB 45 years ago are still very much at the heart of
our work: the need to work from an evidence-informed perspective,
the importance of preventive work with families, the needs of
children in care, the links between social deprivation and ill
health, and the needs of children with disabilities.
NCB has continued to grow throughout the years
and is now the most extensive multi-agency membership series of
interconnected networks for individuals and organisations working
with or on behalf of children and young people
NCB now employs over 133 staff,
all-working to advance the well-being of all children and young
people across every aspect of their lives.
Our flexibility and diversity has enabled us to become
successful as a powerful and authoritative voice for the
sector.