School of Social and Political Science

Description

This seminar marks the publication of a book of the same title and also coincides with the 80th anniversary of the official opening of Edzell Lodge Children’s home in Edinburgh in 1946. The book is unusual in both its authorship and subject matter. Written with and by a retired social worker and three former residents of Edzell Lodge, it foregrounds one agency’s response to unmarried mothers and their children during and after the Second World War, and alongside this, it gives access to what was, at the time, a new and experimental approach to group care for children. Material for the book has been drawn from very different three sources of evidence: formal sites (social policy and legislation, historical sources and social work literature); memories of children (now older adults) and staff members; and archival research (agency records and genealogical sources).

At the seminar, the book’s authors will introduce some of the stories from the book and talk about how they went about writing this book together. Their aim is to show that childcare’s past has much to teach its present and its future; they also hope that others may get encouragement as practitioners and researchers from this example of a co-produced, collaborative research and writing project.

The seminar will include ample time for participation and shared learning, so come prepared to contribute as well as to listen!

Further information on how to order the book can be found here.

This is a hybrid event (in-person and online attendance). Please indicate your preference when booking your place. Online attendees will receive a link to join the session on the day, in advance of the seminar start time. Please check your emails!

Please note that this event may be recorded. The recording will be used for internal University of Edinburgh teaching purposes only.

About the authors

Professor Emerita Viviene Cree (Viv) of the University of Edinburgh worked for many years as a social worker for the agency at the heart of this book. She has conducted research in a number of social work-related fields over the last 40+ years, often with a leaning towards history, and especially focusing on the lives of women and children.

Professor Robert MacKenzie (Bob) is co-author of this book and grew up in Edzell Lodge and Margaret Cottage children’s homes. He is now Visiting Professor of Management Learning at the University of Chichester. His professional focus is on how academic and other forms of practice can connect to their mutual benefit. His work has spanned UK and international settings within the public, private, voluntary and higher education sectors.