Dr Wendy Sims-Schouten will provide an overview of practices and conditions of children cared for by the Waifs and Strays Society in the UK from its inception in 1881 till 1920, as well as providing examples of children who were sent to Canada during this time. Wendy will specifically focus on correspondence, interventions and practices with a focus on mental health and wellbeing, and support this with examples from the relevant case files. Wendy will also give tips and advice on how to access the records.

About the speaker

Dr. Wendy Sims-Schouten is an Associate Professor (Reader) in Childhood Studies and Associate Head Research in the School of Education & Sociology at the University of Portsmouth, UK. Wendy has researched (and published) in the areas of mental wellbeing of vulnerable children, such as children in care and care leavers; she has also researched issues around bullying and childhood obesity. Currently, she is working with local partners in Portsmouth (UK), as well as academics internationally, on research around child protection, safeguarding and the history of mental health support in childhood. Wendy is the coordinator of the Mental Health in Childhood & Education (MICE) Hub (www.micehub.port.ac.uk) at the University of Portsmouth and co-editor for the international and interdisciplinary journal Children & Society. She is also on the editorial board of the Journal of Psychological Therapies.