Care Less Lives Promoting the Rights and Well-being of Young People in Care

1. Care Less Lives Promoting the Rights and Well-being of Young People in Care Mike Stein Research Professor

2. What I am going to talk about • Care Less Lives –the rights movement of young people in care in England • A young person’s history of care – identify themes of ‘a history from below’ • Reflections on the achievements, the recurring themes and current challenges

3. The rights movement of young people in care • Rights movement – young people’s movement as distinct from ‘professional’ rights groups • UNCRC principles – participation, protection and provision • The Leeds Ad-Lib group – began in 1973 -1975 • The Who Cares? project – 1975 to 1978 – continues today • The National Association of Young People in Care – 1979 to 1994 • Black and In Care - 1984-5 • A National Voice – 1999 and still going

4. Leeds Ad-lib group from 1973 • It started by bringing together young people living in care with those who had left care to share their experiences • Campaigned against ‘special arrangements’ for school dinner payments and buying clothes • Challenging stigmatising policies and practices – impact upon identity and well-being • The group helped young people • Talk about care and share experiences – grow in confidence through participating • Educate others about their experiences – AdLib mag • Began to change attitudes and policies towards children and young people at a local level

5. Who Cares? 1975-1978 First national event, for young people aged 12-16, living in Children’s Homes • Context – institutionalisation, community and family care; drift; what did young people think? • Lack of public awareness about care • Movement and disruption experienced by young people living in care • The use of physical punishment – abuse in care? • Young people’s lack of knowledge abut care and being involved in their care

7. Who Cares? • Published a book – Who Cares? Young people in care speak out • Charter of Rights and Things we want to change • Setting-up of 4 regional groups • Published Who Cares? News • Their views received widespread publicity • Introduced the idea of ‘rights’ - a narrative shift from ‘professionally defined needs’ • Rights to equality; information; participation, and privacy

9. The National Association of Young People in Care: 1979-1994 Set up in June 1979 – their own independent organisation: • To improve conditions for children and young people in care • To make information and advice available to young people in care • To promote the views and opinions of young people in care • To help start, support and develop local groups

10. The National Association of Young People in Care • Ban the Book campaign • Gizza Say? Reviews and Young People in Care • Sharing Care, NAYPIC’S Evidence to the 1984 House of Commons Social Services Committee • Carried out surveys – files, leaving care, guidebooks, sexual health and parenthood • Evidence to Wagner Review of Residential Care • Major impact upon law, policy and practice

11. Black and In Care 1984-5 • 1980’s evidence of over-representation of Black and mixed parentage young people in care • Black and In Care conference: topics explored • Fostering • Origins, culture and racism • Mixed parentage • Leaving care • Black and In Care and NAYPIC

12. A National Voice 1999 - today • Context – demise of NAYPIC in 1994; People Like Us, The Utting Report, 1997 – in response to abuses in care • A National Voice launched in 1997 • Me, Survive, Out There? and Amplify Fun event 2002 • Campaigns to end bin bagging, make sleepovers easier, national minimum leaving care grant, improve accommodation • 2010 Report on the emotional wellbeing of young people • 80% found life very difficult and emotional problems affected most of their lives – relationships, education, employment and leisure • Most found it difficult in approaching mental health services • LILAC project, Children in Care Councils, Pledges • 2008 - Evidence to the House of Commons Committee

14. A young person’s history of care • Began with ‘special arrangements’ • Care seen as stigmatising and controlling – owing more to the poor law legacy than new professional thinking? • Being ‘black and in care’ – a ‘white care’? • A history of punishment and abuse in care? • A failure to compensate many young people – educationally, developmentally and emotionally

15. Reflections: what did the right’s movement achieve? • Children Act 1989 – stronger legal framework • Complaints procedures • Young people leaving care • ‘Racial origin, culture and language’ • Consultative rights – ‘wishes and feelings’ • Developments in participation – at both an individual and policy level • Local group impact – personal development • Young people challenging injustices – different from professional concern • A story of Individual and collective resilience • A story of young people

17. Reflections: recurring themes ‘From order books to bin bags’ • Context – changes in the care system • Placement movement and disruption • Stability, high quality care – foundations of well-being • Loss of family and a positive identity for care • Leaving care at too early an age • Supporting young people on their pathways to adulthood • Wide variations in the quality of care