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 50 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.