St Catherine's Home For Girls, Stroud Green

The Waifs and Strays' Society was never the only source of help for children in need. Committees of local people, who just wanted to help, started many homes. Originally St Catherine's Home for Girls was established by a Mr Linklater in memory of Queen Victoria's Jubilee, but was later given to the Society in 1912. It could accommodate 25 girls aged 7-14, and Mrs Bond was the Home's only Honorary Secretary.

Early on it became clear to the Society that St Catherine's didn't meet the needs of the children, and a building fund was started. Many other homes helped in raising money. They organised Pound Days and fêtes in St Catherine's honour. This money was split between the maintenance of the current St Catherine's and the fund to construct a new building that was more suitable for the children's needs.

Being in London, St Catherine's had no garden or proper play area, and it soon held the record within the Society for never having a blade of grass on the premises! The Home later moved to the leafier surroundings of Hampstead in 1926.