The history of Coram
After 215 years of operation, the Foundling Hospital closed its doors in 1954. After the Second World War, attitudes towards children’s emotional needs changed. The 1948 Children Act placed family care at the centre of public provision for children. In light of this, the Governors of the Foundling Hospital found greater numbers of foster families to care for children and by 1954 all residential provision ceased. Changing its name to become the Thomas Coram Foundation for Children, the charity continued to accept babies, finding foster families to care for them until they could return to their mother, or be adopted (with the mother’s consent) by their foster parents, or remain as a foster child in the guardianship of the Governors. This continued until the 1968 Children Act when the responsibility to care for children who could not live with their birth family passed to local authorities.
In 1971, the charity was registered as an adoption agency, offering a specialist service to find adoptive families for the most vulnerable children. At the same time, ongoing support for the last foster children who had not yet reached independence led to the development of education and after-care services for young people.
Coram today
Today Coram is a vibrant group of specialist charities and organisations, supporting hundreds of thousands of children, young people and families every year.
Coram uses its insight and experience to engage with children and young people, government, local authorities, social workers, teachers, carers and families – all those in a position to make a difference – to help deliver better practice, systems, and laws.
All of Coram’s work delivers across seven key outcomes for children and young people: a fair chance, a loving home, a voice that’s heard, a chance to shine, skills for the future, no matter where and a society that cares.
Over the years, Coram has evolved to ensure that it remains relevant and meets the needs of children and young people.
To achieve its mission of better chances for the next generation, Coram is creating the Coram Institute, the only think tank in the country dedicated to the future of children. Building on Coram’s current work, alongside partners from the private, public and voluntary sectors, the Coram Institute will use insight and innovation to meet the changing needs of children and young people now and in the future.
Coram remains committed to those formerly in the care of the Foundling Hospital. They support those wishing to access personal information from its extensive archive to better understand the circumstances of their childhood and maintain a relationship with the organisation. The world has changed but too many children are still alone and at risk, marginalised or without a place they can call home.