Children in Care

There’s no such thing as the perfect family. Every single person has their own story to tell about their family; their birth parents, their family background and history and their current living arrangements. Some of us know our family stories and for some of us we don’t.

There are lots of young people that don’t live with their birth parents. For many reasons, they live with other people, whether that’s other family members, friends, a foster family, an adoptive family or they live in a children’s home/ residential placement.

Whatever the circumstances that means a young person lives with someone other than their birth parents, this can be a big adjustment to get your head around or even just cope with all the changes this brings. There are also some young people who have many changes in terms of where they live and who looks after them. As people cope and manage with situations differently, people will experience situations differently and will cope differently. There is no right or wrong way to feel or respond.

If you’re a child in care, it can be really hard to know who you can turn to or what support there is if you have questions, worries or concerns. We’ve tried to get as many useful resources on different aspects of life as a young person in care that might be helpful.

Websites 

• Coram Voice (A service which equips children and young people to hold to account the services that are responsible for their care. This is a go-to for all your rights and support services available)
• IMO (IMO is a voice for teenagers in care and for care leavers. It is somewhere you can share stories, experiences and achievements, get and give advice, and find loads of great free stuff!)
• Help at Hand (If you're in care, leaving care, living away from home or working with children's services we can offer you free support, advice and information)
• LGBTQ+ Youth in Care
• Friendship for Children in Care
• The Care Leavers Foundation
• Housing and Help for Care leavers