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�鶹Լ�� Teach > School Radio > Assemblies and Collective Worship
KS1 audio: Something to Think About / KS2 audio: Together

Programme content:

Story: Carrots by Sue Reid
Song: Come and Praise, no. 68: ‘Kumbayah’
Vox pops: Children talk about times when they helped someone
Interview: A spokesperson from the charity Barnardos talks about the life and legacy of Thomas Barnardo, including his influence on the work the charity does today
Reflection: on the life and work of Thomas Barnardo, comparing what we have in relation to destitute Victorian children and being grateful for what we have today.

Pre-programme questions:

• What do you know about life for children in Victorian times - for child workers, about schooling and about ‘street children’?
• Have you ever heard of Thomas Barnardo? Do you know what he did and why he is still remembered today? What organisation did he found (start)? Do you know anything about the organisation’s work today?
• Do you know of any charities that help children? What are they called and how do they help?

Story synopsis:

The story is told from the point of view of Thomas Barnardo, who describes the horror and hopelessness of the lives led by ‘street children’ living on the streets of Victorian London. Barnardo decides to open an orphanage so that the children have somewhere safe and secure to spend the night.

One day he visits Billingsgate Market before dawn to hand out ha’pennies to the children huddled amongst the barrels and crates and to choose the first five boys for his ‘home’. It’s a hard task to choose just five boys, especially as he has to turn away a particularly needy-looking boy nicknamed ‘Carrots’.

Barnardo promises to return the following week and offer Carrots a place. However, a few days later Carrots is found dead on the streets. The tragic event prompts Dr Barnardo to vow that no child will ever be turned away from his home again.

After the story:

• Where did the homeless children seek refuge?
• Why were the children living on the streets and how did they survive?
• How many boys could Dr Barnardo take on that first day and what was he offering to them?
• What did Dr Barnardo promise Carrots?
• What vow did Dr Barnardo make and why did he make it?

Follow-up activities:

• In small groups, research what life would have been like in Victorian London. How does it differ from today? What sorts of things did people have then that we do not use today?

• Charities do all sorts of things to raise aware- ness for particular causes. In small groups, pick one charity and do a presentation in front of your teacher outlining the aims of your new charity. What would you do to raise awareness of your charity?