National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)

The Society was originally set up as the London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children by Benjamin Waugh, in 1884. The aim was to raise awareness of child protection issues and campaign for powers to prosecute parents for acts of cruelty. After five years of campaigning, Parliament had passed the first ever UK law 'An Act for the Better Prevention of Cruelty to Children', to protect children from abuse and neglect. Branches were soon established throughout the country. In 1885 the Refuge had already formed the Manchester and Salford Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children to campaign for better rights for children. The Act of 1889 also provided the Society with greater power in dealing with gross cases of neglect, as certain provisions made parental neglect cruelty, and therefore punishable. By 1894 however, the NSPCC had established a branch in Manchester, resulting in the Trust handing over the work to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

The series contains correspondence between the NSPCC and the Society.