Who we are

We are Childhood First, a charity for severely traumatised children. We provide specialist 24/7 treatment and therapeutic education for children with complex psychological, emotional and behavioural needs. We have five residential children’s homes and a school.

Refer a Child

Childhood First is a children’s charity providing outstanding residential care, foster care and special education, integrated with effective therapeutic treatment, to children and young people affected by abuse, neglect and deprivation.

Make a Referral

Integrated Systemic Therapy

Our unique and effective approach has been developed over half a century and is known as Integrated Systemic Therapy (iST).  It transforms young lives, delivering unparalleled success in the treatment of children and young people suffering serious emotional and behavioural disturbance.

Find out more

Work with Us

Whether you are seeking to work hands-on with our children as a care worker or as a member of our administrative team – we are able to offer you a life-changing and rewarding career path. We offer a fully immersive clinical training, accredited by UKCP and Middlesex University.

Career Opportunities

Support Us

The funds we secure from our generous benefactors and trusts are absolutely essential in enabling us to expand, develop and improve our services to meet the increasing demand from children in need of our specialist care.

How you can Support Us