A dynamic group of young people who have lived in foster care across North Yorkshire are helping to improve the services that have helped to shape their lives.
The young people aged 11 to 25 have formed the “Care Champions” to share the voice of those who have lived in foster care and to influence policy.
They have embarked on their second major project of the year following the resounding success of their "My First Night" initiative. In their first project, the Care Champions created a welcome pack aimed at easing the transition for young people entering foster care.
Drawing from their own experiences, they included comforting items, heartfelt postcards from fellow young people with experience in care, and a personalised booklet for both the new arrivals and their foster carers. The booklet contained valuable information about the individual’s personality, preferences and the home environment - all designed to make the first night in care a little more comforting.
Building on this momentum, the Care Champions have now turned their attention to understanding and influencing the fostering process itself. During their meetings, the group expressed a keen interest in learning about foster carer selection, interviewing and training.
They believe that gaining an insight into why people choose to become foster carers and understanding the intricacies of the process is crucial.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for children and families, Cllr Janet Sanderson, said:
“The Care Champions' journey is a testament to the power of youth voices in shaping a more inclusive and understanding foster care system whilst making a huge difference to the lives of young people entering care.
“Their innovative projects and heartfelt advocacy continue to inspire and drive positive change within the community.”
The Care Champions are currently advocating for the inclusion of fostered young people in the recruitment process.
They are working on a bespoke training program that is purely young person-focused, offering perspectives directly from those who experienced or lived in care.
This initiative aims to ensure that future foster carers are equipped to meet the needs of the children they care for.
Foster carer Jane Howard, from Scarborough, said:
“I think that the young person I care for really feels that her voice and opinion matter at these events and that's great for her confidence and feelings of self-worth.
“She has been really encouraged out of her comfort zone, which I think will do them the world of good. And on top of that, they have had fun.”
Fellow North Yorkshire foster carer Susan Reynolds, 45, from Harrogate, also praised the work of the Care Champions.
She added:
“I'm really excited about the changes we’ve seen in my young person in care, as we try so hard to get her to speak up for herself. It's brilliant that you've been able to do this.”
One of the Care Champions added:
“I like meeting up and making new friends from different places and I really hope the group continues to grow more.”
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