National Children's Homes, or NCH Action for Children as it is now known, was founded in 1869 by a Methodist minister, Thomas Bowen Stephenson when he and his colleagues established their first home for orphans and children abandoned by destitute parents in South London. From these origins, NCH has grown into one of the foremost charities for children, helping more than 16,000 children a year at over 200 projects. Beginning with Stephenson's early life, this book reveals how the work of this pioneering organization has developed over 125 years. It concludes with a detailed look at a dozen NCH projects around the UK to illustrate the wide scope of the charity's work in caring for children and supporting the families in which they live.