Man Alive

The First Three Days (1975x7)

Air date: Mar 20, 1975

On 7 January, Clifford House Adolescent Unit opened its doors to 13 boys and girls in care of the Local Authority, Westminster. Most of them had been rejected by other children's homes; most had been in serious trouble with the police; few had parents to support them. One man, Derek Garner , and four house-mothers undertook to look after them. Their aim is to change attitudes in child care; to banish the unquestioned authority of the social worker - the ' do as I say or else ' attitude; to treat these adolescents as friends and give them the love and support they need.