Welcome to Birmingham Children In Care Council's blog! We are a group of Children in Care and Care Leavers, who work in liason with Birmingham's Rights and Participation Service (RAP) to better the services all Children in Care and Care Leavers receive, and to fight for their rights and entitlements!
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
G2K 2013 'listening to children and young people'
Letters are going out as we speak to Birmingham children in care to invite them to our annual summer event. This year it will be held at RAPs new home 'The Lighthouse' in Aston. It will run all day and we will have an interactive market place and lots of opportunities for children and young people to take part in a range of activities (lots of creative art projects and sporty sessions planned) We also have some surprise mystery celebrity guests!
If you work with children in care please ask them about this event and have they booked in? If you would like to have a stall or are interested in visiting let us know ASAP. We want to make sure as many children and young people from Birmingham know about this.
No excuses,
Get promoting!!!
August Thursday 15th 2013.
Alisha.
Hola! I'm Alisha, I've been a member of the Children In Care Council for nearly 5 years now, starting as an adolescent 13years old, and now reaching 18, In some ways I don't feel a day older! it feels like Rights and Participation have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember! its become something that I keep in the back of my mind when doing anything in my day to day life now. I am a musician by trade...hint hint. Available for hire. Remember to follow us...we need you!!!!!!
Friday, 12 July 2013
Save the date!
The 15th of August will be great!
if you are a young person in care or an organisation that wants to speak to children and young people in care then this might interest you! You need to follow this blog and email us for more information.... Don't miss out!!!
Thursday, 11 July 2013
Introducing an exec member of CiCC
Hello!
My name is Nat and I am part of CiCC. CiCC is one way I can help get my voice and other young people in care voice heard : ) I like meeting new people when we attend events, going to different meetings with the heads of stuff and the councillors within Birmingham. I like to give my views about issues raised and I like to hear Alisha sing! (Another CiCC person) there isn't anything I don't like, if there was I would tell you and we would get it sorted! X
So what do children REALLY think?
Saturday at The Vibe
We met with five children on Saturday that came to The Vibe and told us about their experiences in care. All the children were excited and happy to be part of an important discussion and agreed they would like their views shared on our blog for other children, young people, professionals and carers to see.
So what did we ask and what did we hear?
The five children we spoke to felt that their social workers listen to them and involve them in decisions that affect them.
We asked if they felt social workers found them happy places to live?
All the children were happy now but 3 of the children (siblings) have had five different places to live and really hoped this last place would be for a long time!
" I like my carer, I get proper food and a choice"
"I like my home, my carer looks after me"
We asked the children if they liked school and did they try their 'best' and are they supported?
All the children like school, especially sport!
"I get my spellings right now"
"My school is cool"
We wanted find out what the children did for fun, so do they hobbies and special interests?
The children all had extra clubs and special interest activities and all liked playing on their bikes and scooters. One young woman missed out on school trip because she didn't have a passport, I didn't get sorted and she still doesn't. She felt sad to miss out on a school trip.
We asked if the children felt fit and healthy, we asked them what that means and how they keep healthy.
All of the children felt healthy and gave lots of examples, one young man could see the difference and talked about feeling healthier now he was with his carer because he is looked after properly.
We asked the children if they attend their care reviews and would they like to?
Only one child said yes but all the children would like to attend or be asked to attend.
"I don't want to miss school but I want to come"
Most would like it at their carers home, one child said at the social workers office.
We asked if they were happy with the contact arrangements with their families?
Some had regular contact, some didn't but they were not always sure why.
All the children said they could talk to an adult in their life and could names that adult. All the children said they sometimes feel a little left out at times. One young woman said she is sometimes bullied at school because she is in care but her teachers tells the other children off and she is happy with that.
We will be doing more visits and weekend events, please please promote if you ate a social worker. We enjoyed Saturday and all these comments help us understand what other children think and feel.
Please share our blog!!!
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