Children and young people's voices

What do we do?  

We have a variety of opportunities for young people across the UK to participate in our work and have their voice heard, so no matter where you are, there’s something for you! 

England

• Mockingbird Activity Days - Through our Mockingbird programme, we run creative workshops for young people  

Wales

• Wales - Youth Advisory Board - In Wales, our youth advisory board is for people aged 14-25 who are in or have been in foster care. This is an opportunity to campaign for change in the foster care system and to have your voice heard.  

Scotland

• Scotland - Young People's Advisory Board - Our young people's advisory board in Scotland is made up of young people aged 16 to 21 who are in or have been in foster care or are children of foster carers. They meet fortnightly online and around every 8 weeks in person to work on their key priorities, which include improving transitions from care and tackling stigma around care experience. 

Northern Ireland  

• Step Up Step Down (SUSD)- supports families on the edge of care, with trauma-informed, nurturing and collaborative approaches. As well as specific supports such as mentoring and training for parents and carers, children and young people are supported in a range of ways. Family Support Foster Carers provide short breaks packed with great activities that the children and young people enjoy, tailored to their interests. They can take part in therapeutic nurture groups, outdoor pursuits, arty workshops, skills-building activities and loads more. 
• Fostering Kinship Support - provides wraparound support which is nurturing, flexible and needs-lead for children and young people in kinship foster care, their carers and the whole family unit. The voices of children and young people inform what we do, through representation on the steering group and input into evaluations. With everything from cooking, games, watersports, outdoor pursuits, wellbeing workshops, art and more, children and young people thoroughly enjoy all that this project offers. 
• Fostering Attainment and Achievement (FAA) - supports children and young people in foster care to achieve their goals. We know the importance of emotional wellbeing to support learning and we have listened to children and young people in terms of what they want and need. As such, we have a varied programme of direct provision (things like providing tuition, laptops and activities like dance and sports), training for foster carers and the team around them, children and young people's awards, careers tasters, a residential to experience university life and a brilliant summer programme full of fun.