A collaboration by staff and young trainers from Become, the charity for children in care and young care leavers
Become (previously The Who Cares? Trust) has supported and campaigned for children in care and young care leavers since 1992. The charity's work and goals include providing advice and support, influencing policy and practice, helping young people in care and care leavers achieve their education aspirations, and training professionals that work with young people.
The charity's work is shaped by young people who share the expertise and participation. Young trainers shared their own perspectives and lived experiences in focus groups for this Community Care Inform project - they are used in composite and anonymised form.
Links
- Support services: information about Become's support services for young people, including Care Advice Line, coaching, community link-ups and education and employment support
- Join the movement: For young people (up to 27) who want to contribute to Become's work by sharing the expertise and voice
- Information for young people: information about rights, entitlements, housing and education
- Information for professionals and carers: training and information about services
All posts by A collaboration by staff and young trainers from Become, the charity for children in care and young care leavers
This piece will explore different lived experiences of the care system through telling the stories of four individuals: Mohammed, Charlie, Cassie and Bradley. You’ll hear the voices and views of young people about all aspects of the system – from going into care to leaving it – and their experiences with social workers, both positive and negative.
Children and young people's views on contact arrangements, the emotional issues which contact (or lack of) can contribute to, and
the longer-term impact of contact in earlier life.
Young people’s views and experiences around what it was like to be a teenager in care, issues of stigma, the importance of hobbies or interests and making and sustaining positive friendships and relationships.
Young people’s views and experiences around difficulties they experienced in their placement, what actions were taken (or not taken) to respond to these issues and how supportive social workers were in dealing with these difficulties.
Young people’s experiences around going into care and their feelings on their first nights in care, the provision of information and introduction of new people, and how social workers can best support children at a particularly turbulent time.
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