Q Camp

The Q Camp was an experimental community set up at Hawkspur Green, Essex, England, towards the end of the Second World War. It was envisioned as a self-governing community populated by disturbed or delinquent city children who were not suitable for inclusion in the evacuation programme because of their behavioural problems.
Origins.
It was originally a camp set up for adults in 1936 but was closed when the war started. Arthur Barron took over as camp chief and espoused the view that children could learn discipline by taking on shared responsibilities but should not be under any compulsion to take any non-voluntary action.
Shutdown.
The community was shut down for health and safety reasons. Some suppliers and parents had raised concerns about the welfare of the children, who had continued in their antisocial behaviour by setting fires and destroying property, and they had continued to reject any of the responsibilities required for the running and maintenance of the camp.