Coram Voice is the first and longest continuing voice for the child in care.
As we mark 50 years, we call for a renewed commitment to listening to and acting on the views of children and young people who depend upon the support of children’s services.
We have come a long way in 50 years, but there is still much more to do to unlock the future of the next generation of children and young people in, and leaving, care.
Services are more effective when children and young people are seen and heard, and adults both listen and act on what they say.
Our Bright Spots programme, the largest and most systematic research on children’s views and experiences of care, has helped local authorities across the country to improve their services.
As a result, councils have made pioneering changes in the areas of housing, education and social work practice (see www.coramvoice.org.uk/resource-library/brightspots).
We would like to see greater engagement with children and young people on all significant changes to policy, particularly with A National Voice – the national children in care council – to ensure that young people in every local authority have a say.
Young people leaving care need support and we would like to see a consistent national offer underpinning the local offer for care leavers. This would ensure fairness and consistency across local areas on issues such as the setting up home allowance.
We would also like to see the removal of the local connection tests and intentional homelessness decisions for care leavers, alongside the extension of priority need status for homeless care leavers from 21 to 25 years old.
This is something local authorities could do to support young care leavers to live within their communities and provide the stability of a safe, secure home.
Coram Voice research has shown that care leavers are at increased risk of experiencing loneliness and low wellbeing. Access to tailored mental health support and the extension of a reimagined ‘independent visitor’-type service would support young people as they make this important transition.
Children and young people in care need access to high-quality, independent advocacy to keep them safe, informed and ensure their voices are heard. We would like a legal entitlement to advocacy to be extended to include assessments for children who are disabled, homeless or living in kinship arrangements.
Coram Voice also passionately believes in giving children a creative platform.
In May, we celebrated the winners of the ninth edition of Voices, the only national creative writing competition for care-experienced children and young people.
It was an absolute pleasure to read these poems and stories that go to the heart of Coram Voice’s work and show us what is possible when children and young people are given the opportunity to express themselves.
Twelve-year-old Elizabeth, winner of the lower secondary category, summed this up perfectly: “A voice that tells the world I am whole, I belong, and I will always be heard.”
Working together with local authorities, we can ensure care-experienced children and young people not only survive but thrive as they move forward to adult life.
- Find out more at www.coramvoice.org.uk, and read the winning entries of the Voices competition at http://bit.ly/43SwaVx