FOR THE CHILDREN.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1915, Page 6

FOR THE CHILDREN.

YOUNG HELPERS' LEAGUE. A party of four ladies from England is at present touring New Zealand recruiting members for the Young Helpers' League, an auxiliary of Dr. Barnardo's Homes, and the party was recently in New Plymouth. It happened that the visit to New Plymouth marked the end of a year's work which these ladies have carried out in the Dominion, and during that period they have gained over 12,000 companions and between 300 and 400 habitations and lodges have been opened in various pia'ces. The party consists of Misses Norton, Garden, Cosbey and Monks, and Miss Monks is remaining in Xew Zealand.

The Young Helpers' League is a voluntary union (composed principally of young people, but also including a large ijtrmber of senior members) of friends of children from happy homes all over the world It is divided into two sections —the Junior Companions, who are under IS years of age, agree to do all they can to help the crippled, blind, deaf and dumb and sick children in Dr. Barnardo's Homes. The Senior Companions, who are 18 years or over, also offer service on behalf of the League. The object of the League is to get children in happy homes throughout the Empire to take an interest in sick and crippled children at Home, and to do what they can to make brighter the lives of those children. There are about 8000 children in the Barnardo Homes at present, and of that number about 1000 are crippled or are ailing in some way. The League was started 25 years ago by the late Dr. Barnardo and during the first year sufficient money was raised to support 23 crippled children in comfort, and in the last year over .£25,000 was raised for the purpose.