Select Committee on Health Third Report


THE WELFARE OF FORMER BRITISH CHILD MIGRANTS

The Child Migrants' Trust

96. Without the advent of the Child Migrants' Trust in 1987, this inquiry might not have taken place, and efforts to help former child migrants would still probably be undeveloped. The Trust was founded by Mrs Margaret Humphreys, a former social worker, who is still its Director. It has received some financial support from the British Government. In the first instance the Trust applied to the DoH for a grant of £111,000 to begin in April 1990, and to be followed in the two succeeding years by grants of £92,000 per year. The Trust actually received £20,000 in the first year and no grant for the following two years. Funding was resumed in 1993. From April that year the Trust received an annual grant of £30,000. This was reduced to £25,000 for the last financial year, dropping to £20,000 in the current financial year. There are currently no plans for any further financial support from DoH. In addition to this DoH funding, the Child Migrants' Trust has received a National Lottery grant, as well as funding from Nottinghamshire County Council, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, Lincolnshire Social Services, some state governments in Australia and the Uniting Church of Australia. Despite its limited resources, it has opened offices in Nottingham, Melbourne and Perth. It offers practical help and emotional support to former child migrants in the form of family tracing and counselling services.

97. The Trust in general and Margaret Humphreys in particular have received much acclaim for their work. Indeed in 1993 Mrs Humphreys was awarded the Order of Australia Medal. The Trust has undoubtedly been instrumental in drawing attention to the needs of former child migrants and in raising public awareness of the issues. It has helped many people. Our oral and written evidence contain many glowing tributes to the Trust. A few of the memoranda we received are more guarded in their remarks about the Trust,[120] but the majority that make reference to representative organisations support it and recommend that it should be provided with adequate funding. We have, however, heard some anecdotal criticism of the Trust: for instance, suggesting that the Trust chooses to help only former child migrants who will bring it kudos or publicity; that on occasions it has been over-protective of or proprietorial towards individual former migrants; and that it has sometimes been dilatory in passing on information it has acquired (which may be due to a shortage of funds). The Trust is not particularly popular with the sending or receiving agencies, although there appears to be growing understanding on their part that the expertise and idealism embodied in the Trust have an essential part to play in any future arrangements for improving the welfare of former child migrants. Barnardo's, NCH Action for Children and the Salvation Army told us that they have no problem in developing closer links with the Trust.[121] The Catholic Church Welfare Council[122] and Fairbridge[123] displayed greater caution. The Trust asserts that it is a neutral and independent body and has shown considerable reluctance to enter into any kind of intimate liaison with the sending agencies.


120   See, for example, CM 3A, CM 22, CM 170 and CM 211A. Back

121   Q 280, 286, 288. Back

122   Q 274 Back

123   Q 281. Back


 
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Prepared 30 July 1998