Quarriers is a Scottish social care charity based in Quarrier's Village, Inverclyde. It provides care and support for people with a disability, children and families, young people, young homeless people, people with epilepsy and carers. In February 2008 Quarriers was the largest non-church social care charity in Scotland. The charity was founded in the late 19th century by William Quarrier, a shoe retailer from Glasgow. In the 1890s he built the Orphan Homes of Scotland in Bridge of Weir, which were home to up to 1500 children at a time. Changes in UK childcare practice and legislation in the 1970s and 80s led to a modernisation process, through which the organisation developed the services it delivers today and became known as Quarriers. Quarriers’ work covers the whole of Scotland and the organisation is also involved in several international projects.
History
The charity was founded in the late 19th century by William Quarrier, a shoe retailer from Glasgow. Quarrier began looking after homeless children in the 1870s, opening a night refuge for homeless children in Renfrew Street, Glasgow in 1871. He then expanded his operations, using charitable donations to buy a piece of land near Bridge of Weir, on which the Orphan Homes of Scotland were built. By the 1890s this included 34 cottages, a school, a church and a fire station – a complete working village that became known, and is still known, as Quarrier's Village. More than 800 children at a time lived at Quarrier's Village during the 1890s and as the charity expanded, up to 1500 children were accommodated at a time. In total more than 30,000 children have been cared for at Quarrier's Village.
Emigration programme
From 1872 to 1938, the Orphan Homes of Scotland participated in an overseas emigration programme that sent more than 7,000 young people primarily to Canada and some to Australia. The homes were listed as the Orphan and Destitute Children's Emigration Homes in 1872 and had close connections with their receiving centre, Fairknowe, in Brockville, Ontario. Quarriers apologised for this practice in 2019, acknowledging that while the scheme was seen to have "offered the chance of a better life", "it was misguided and wrong". The charity further acknowledged that a number of children had suffered cruelty and abuse.
Current operations
Quarriers is still based at Quarrier's Village in the civil parish of Kilmacolm, Inverclyde. Its services now cover the whole of Scotland. In February 2008 Quarriers was the largest non-church social care charity in Scotland, as measured by annual income. The charity provides care and support services for:
Adults and children with a disability – through respite care, supporting people to live independently, support for people with learning difficulties and work placements.
Children and families – through its family centres that provide information and support, drop-in services, health promotion and nursery and childcare facilities.
Carers – through Quarriers Carers Centres that offer information and advice, emotional support, support groups and help with financial issues.
The charity is also involved in several international projects, including the Taganka Children's Fund in Russia and Saathi, an organisation supporting women and children across Nepal. In 2004, Quarriers won both 'Fundraiser of the Year' and the Communications Award from the Institute of Fundraising Scotland.
