Livability has been renamed the Shaftesbury Society, the name the disability and care charity adopted during the Second World War but last used 16 years ago.

The charity launched in 1844 as the Ragged School Union, to offer free education and support to destitute children.

A century later it was renamed as The Shaftesbury Society, after its first president Lord Shaftesbury, a Tory politician and social reformer who campaigned around issues such as cutting child labour.

Following a merger in 2007 with John Grooms it then became Liveability.

The change of name back to the Shaftesbury Society has been made to use the charity’s heritage and its first president’s Victorian reform agenda to increase its reach and interest in its work.

“As Shaftesbury, telling the stories of our work over the centuries, in relation to disability and disadvantage, will power our future,” said the charity.

“Lord Shaftesbury remains one of history’s most significant agents for social change, pushing through nineteenth-century legislation to make life fairer and safer for tens of thousands of vulnerable children and adults.”



“Expanding the reach of our brand means we can provide a greater number of children, young people and adults with the kind of support that adds up to a flourishing life,” said the charity’s chief executive Sally Chivers.

“This change is motivated by our desire to do better for the people we support. They contributed to the consultation process and they remain at the heart of our decision-making.

“We believe the change promotes a sustainable future for our charity. We intend to be here for another 180 years.”

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