About CANW
Who We Are
Child Action North West (CANW) is a charity that supports children, young people, vulnerable adults and families across the North West and beyond. The organisation was originally founded in 1886 as the Blackburn Orphanage by the Reverend Joseph Cuff, and over more than 130 years has grown to deliver a wide range of community-based services.
CANW’s purpose is to ensure that everyone gets the support they need, when they need it, to navigate the challenges they face in life. The charity works to improve outcomes, raise aspirations, and strengthen resilience among those who may be disadvantaged, facing trauma, or in need of additional support.
CANW is a registered charity (number 222533) and continues to operate from its historical base in Blackburn, Lancashire.
What We Do
CANW delivers services across four main areas of work:
Support for Children and Young People – providing early help, youth justice support, emotional wellbeing and mental health programmes, and mentoring services in schools and communities.
Family and Community Services – supporting families experiencing difficulties, including mediation, parenting programmes and targeted interventions for those affected by separation or conflict.
Fostering – recruiting, training and supporting foster carers to provide stable, loving homes for children who cannot live with their birth families. CANW has been delivering fostering services for over 20 years, with 24/7 social work support and access to specialist training and therapeutic input.
Appropriate Adult and Advocacy Services – ensuring that vulnerable individuals, including young people and adults in police custody, receive support and representation throughout the justice process.
In 2023–24, CANW provided more than 27,000 interventions across its services, reaching over 19,000 children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Our History
CANW’s history dates back to 1886, when the Reverend Joseph Cuff established the Blackburn Orphanage to provide care and education for children who had lost their parents. Over time, the charity evolved to reflect changes in society and social care, extending its focus from residential provision to wider family and community-based services.
The organisation formally became Child Action North West in 2001, reflecting its broader remit and regional reach. Today, CANW continues to build on that legacy of care, compassion and practical support.
Our Values and Approach
CANW’s work is guided by three core values:
We Care – putting people at the heart of everything we do.
We Empower – helping individuals and families to take control of their own futures.
We Never Give Up – remaining committed, resilient and consistent in the support we provide.
These values shape how CANW delivers its services and supports its workforce, partners and the people it serves.
Our Commitment
CANW works in partnership with local authorities, schools, health services and voluntary organisations to deliver high-quality, evidence-based support. The charity continues to develop and adapt its services in response to the changing needs of children, young people and families, ensuring that help is available when and where it is most needed.