John Groom's Crippleage and Flower Girls Mission. Blind and Crippled Girls making artificial flowers. John Groom's vision for orphaned and disabled girls and women to find a way to support themselves has had a lasting legacy, with a network of care homes around the country. John Groom (1845-1919) (pictured centre) set up his first mission in 1866 at the age of 21 for girls and women who needed shelter, a regular meal and a way of earning some money.