| Biography | The Young Helpers League (YHL) was established by Dr. Thomas Barnardo in 1891 and which was a pioneering institute in organising mass charity whereby small sums were gathered from a large number of donors. The aim of the YHL was to encourage better-off children to contribute to the Dr. Barnardo Homes and become involved in other fund-raising activities. The YHL was also helped by having active royal patronage, with HRH Princess Mary, Duchess of Teck as its President (later Queen Mary, consort of George V) and other members of the Royal Family as vice-presidents. The YHL proved exceptionally popular across the British Isles and membership had grown to over 34,000 by 1905. Dr. Barnardo Homes and numerous YHL branches also opened in countries across the British Empire, notably in Australia and New Zealand. After the 1930s, the YHL was renamed as the Barnardo Helpers League.
Membership to the YHL was by annual subscription of 6d (six pence) and newly enrolled members received the badge, an enrolment certificate as well as the Young Helpers League Magazine which was published quarterly. The YHL magazines were an important vehicle for ideas, commendations and encouragement for its members to do charitable and other work that helped raise funds for Dr. Barnardo Homes. The participation of members parents was also expected.
The purpose of the YHL was originally stated as A union of boys and girls, chiefly of the upper and middle classes, in aid of crippled, blind, deaf and dumb and ailing children of the waif class.
Dr. Thomas Barnardo began his work helping destitute children when in 1867 he opened a Ragged School in Londons East-End, where poor children would receive a basic education. Over the years, the number of Dr. Barnardo Homes opened for destitute and orphaned boys, and later for girls, continued to grow not just within Britain but also across the countries of the British Empire. Barnardos residential care reached its height in 1933 when there were more than 8,000 children living in 188 homes across Britain. Dr. Barnardo devoted his lifes work to helping poor children, driven by his deep personal sense of philanthropism and religious evangelism, as well as the poverty and destitution he saw amongst children on the street of east-end London. |