Great Yarmouth children's homes

Great Yarmouth County Borough Council took over responsibility for the care of children from the Poor Law Unions.

It established a public assistance committee to which the boarding out and district nursing committee reported.

This latter body was renamed the boarding out, district nursing and children's committee in January 1933.

The public assistance committee became the social welfare committee in November 1945. 

Between June 1948 and February 1949, the boarding out and children's homes sub-committee reported to the new welfare services committee.

A separate children's committee was established in March 1949, reporting directly to the council.

The social services committee was formed in January 1971, with a children's homes and boarding out sub-committee and a welfare services sub-committee. 

Great Yarmouth County Borough Council's responsibilities for social services were transferred to Norfolk County Council on April 1 1974 in a nationwide reorganisation of local government.

Borough council records, 1930-74

• Public assistance committee minutes, 1929-46 (Y/WE 156,162-194).
• Boarding out committee (boarding out and district nursing committee from April 1928, boarding out, district nursing and children's committee from January 1933) minutes, 1927-42 (Y/WE 209).
• Social welfare committee (including boarding out, district nursing and children's committee) minutes, 1946-48 (Y/WE 195-199).
• Welfare services committee (including boarding out and children's committee), 1948-49 (Y/WE 308).
• Children's committee minutes, 1949-71, and social services committee minutes, 1971-74, have not been deposited in the NRO. Edited extracts are to be found in the printed series of council and committee minutes, 1949-71 (Y/TC 88/37-61).
• Register of children boarded out, 1941-48 (Y/WE 297). Closed to public access for 100 years.  
• Children's homes, Gorleston, admission and discharge register (listing 'Cottage' to which sent), 1914-33 (Y/WE 305). Closed to public access for 100 years.  
• Children's homes, Gorleston, register of children in care (one child per page), 1918-27 (Y/WE 306). Closed to public access for 100 years.  
• Children's home case papers, 1910-43 (Y/WE 310- 311). Closed to public inspection for 100 years.

We have very few records relating to children's homes and children in care after 1974. Norfolk County Council has more information on accessing data.