The man who started it all ...........

James Fegan began his work amongst destitute boys in 1870, his first home being in Deptford in South East London. In 1882 the work was transferred to Southwark. The orphanage in Stony Stratford opened in 1900 and a training farm in Goudhurst, Kent, operated from about 1910. James Fegan's initial work was very much one of rescue - seeking out those who had nowhere to live and no one to care for them.

By the early 1960s the accent was on the smaller residential family home, seven of which were opened in South East England. In the mid 1980s the fostering and adoption of children became the local authorities' preferred policy, resulting in a decline in the number of children placed in residential care. This led to the closure of the children's homes, and the reshaping of the work towards the current activities.

James Fegan was a man of strong faith, and it was this faith that inspired the work he started. The desire to share his faith and the gospel message was as important to him as the desire to show God's love in the practical work of tackling the social needs he encountered. These principles are woven into the Charity's Trust Deed, and we endeavour, through our mission, ethos and values, to adhere to the teaching of the Bible in all that we do as a Charity.

Our Work
The work of Fegans has been focussed on the child from the start. Although we no longer run children's homes, our priority remains the wellbeing of the child. Much of our work is directly with children, through the groups we run at our Centres and in schools, as well as one to one work.

Today we offer no residential provision. Instead we work in the community. We undertake services such as counselling, child and family support, pre-school facilities, schools work and training.

As a Christian organisation, Fegans underlines the value of the family. In order to help children, it means that issues in the family home often have to be addressed. Therefore, we work with parents, or those with parental responsibility, especially in times of crisis.