Records and support
We have always
felt a commitment to former residents and are able to offer support
to those who request it.
Access to records
We hold, in the strictest confidence, personal information on
most people who have lived in an Action for Children home. Anyone
requesting access to personal records is asked to meet with an
experienced social worker. If you live overseas, you will be asked
to identify a counsellor or social worker near to you through whom
the file can be sent.
We can give access to records for:
- adults formerly in care
- adults formerly in care in the UK who now live outside the
UK
Descendants of ex-residents / family history requests
(where the ex-resident is no longer alive): regretfully,
due to a high demand for the service we have had to prioritise
personal requests from former care adults and adopted adults. We
are therefore unable to accept any further requests from relatives
at this time, but please continue to check this page for any
updates.
To access any records print out and complete our Access to
Records form, then post it to the following address:
Action for Children
Business Admin Support Officer
Performance Improvement and Inclusion
Division
3 The Boulevard
Ascot Road
Watford
WD18 8AG
UK
Contact us
If you have any questions or would like more information, please
don't hesitate to contact us.
Support
Anyone accessing records will need time to discuss the content
of those records and may need support at that time. We know from
experience that accessing records from the past can be very
emotional. Circumstances may be distressing and language may be
offensive by today's standards.
If you are overseas, we will we ask you to contact a counsellor
near to you. We will work through this person to make sure that you
receive the services you need.
Reunions
We hold an Old Boys and Girls Reunion every July to promote
links between people who were part of our branches and orphanages,
nationally and worldwide.
Negative experiences
Most people formerly in the care of Action for Children have had
happy experiences. However, for some people this was not the case.
If your childhood experiences were painful, traumatic or unhappy,
we would like you to tell us.
Action for Children is fully committed to taking the necessary
action when incidents of abuse are brought to our attention. Please
read the following PDF for more information.