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The Debate Project
‘Life after Care’ Conference 2009 Young People’s views on leaving care
Debate Project Young Peoples Conference ‘Life After Care’ Report of findings from the 26th September 2009 40 care leavers aged between 15-25 years old travelled across Scotland to come together to share opinions, ideas and views about their thoughts and experiences of leaving care. 13 workers from a range of voluntary and local authority agencies supported these young people to attend the event. ‘It was good and fun and I enjoyed meeting everyone’ (Cheryl, Dumfries and Galloway)
Introduction The purpose of the conference was to bring care leavers together from around Scotland and provide a platform for them to discuss their views of leaving care. The conference was designed, developed and delivered by a group of care leavers who are members of the Debate Project. Guests Voice of Reason a care leavers group from Aberdeen also designed and delivered a workshop. The young people developed a range of skills including public speaking, designing and delivering workshops, group work skills, facilitation and event planning.
Method In order to gather our findings we used a peer education approach. Young people facilitated interactive games, workshops and activities, to support 30 young participants to explore their views in relation to four topics. These were: 1. Feelings and needs when leaving care. 2. Living in and leaving care 3. Experience of Corporate Parent agencies 4. A mentoring service on leaving care We used a variety of creative methods and activities to engage with and explore the experience of the young people attending the event. Our Findings Section 1 In this section we present what young people told us in relation to how care leavers may feel when they leave care, what they need and how their experiences may differ to other young people who haven’t been in care. 1. How do young people feel when they leave care? 92% of responses were negative
“Nervous”
“Isolated”
“Lonely”
“Depressed”
“Angry”
8% of responses were positive
“Happy”
“Excited”
1.1 What do young people need most when they leave care? 56% of responses stated that young people needed emotional support.
“Family”
“Friends”
“Worker
“Someone to rely on”
15% of responses stated that young people needed time to think and for their needs to be listened too.
“To
be
“Space
to
heard”
think”
“Time to decide”
“Information
and
answers
15% of responses stated that young people needed stability
“Stable
living
conditions”
Know
which
staff
are
going
to
be
supporting
you”
“Know
where
you
are
staying/going ”
14% of responses stated that young people needed practical support.
“Food”
“Money”
“Help to get a job”
“Help
learning
how
to
fill
your
time”
“Childcare”
“Equipment
for
uni”
1.2 What might care leavers have to deal with that other young people don’t? 51% of responses stated that care leavers may face more emotional challenges.
“Loneliness”
“Lack
of
control”
“Uncertainty”
“Trust”
“Insecurity ”
“Depression”
22% of responses stated that young people may experience greater financial worries.
“Bills” “Learning
to
budget”
“Figuring out the benefit system”
“Taking
responsibility
for
yourself”
“Having no money”
“Financial worries”
22% of responses stated that care leavers may be more likely to suffer from a lack of family and friendship networks.
“Not
living
in
own
home”
“Having
to
make
new
friends”
“Dealing with family problems
“Friends
have
better
lives”
“No
safety
net”
“No
one
to
come
back
to”
4% of responses stated that care leavers may experience greater challenges around employment and further education.
“No
family
to
“Have to support
me
find a job” through
uni”
1% of responses felt that care leavers may experience greater challenges in relation to alcohol.
“Drinking”
Section 2 In this section we explored young people’s views about their living circumstances in and out of care. 2. Where do young people live when they are in care?’ Residential care, Foster Families, Respite Care, Relatives, Supported Accommodation, Secure Care, Adopted and Young Offenders. 2.2 Where do young people live when they leave care?’ Their response was:
Psychiatric Unit B and B Hotels Jail Supported Accomodation Homeless Accomodation Adopted Family Streets Tent Garage Couch Temp Accom. Own tenancy Family Hostel College flats Private let Partner Friends
There is a clear contrast between the relatively few accommodation types young people experience whilst in care compared to the unstable and unsuitable range of accommodation types young people experience on leaving care.
Live in job Move abroad Bought House Caravan Young Mums Unit Foster carers
2.3
Would young people like to go back to the places they lived whilst they were in care and why?
“It
saved
the
relationship
with
my
father
by
staying
there”
“They helped me with money”
“They
were
just
like
a
family”
“I
did
lots
of
activities
with
them”
“They gave me what I needed”
“I
felt
wanted”
“They made me feel like it was home”
“I
WOULD
LIKE
TO
GO
BACK
BECAUSE”
“I would get support”
“They
treated
me
well”
“Some
are
good
they
looked
after
me
for
10
years
so
we
had
a
good
rapport”
“It
was
a
good
experience”
2.4
Would young people like to go back to the places they lived whilst they were in care and why?
“They
didn’t
do
a
good
job
with
me”
“I liked foster carer but not area we lived in”
“My
foster
carer
took
over”
“My
foster
carers
weren’t
for
me”
“I didn’t like my placement”
“They
were
demanding”
“they were Mean” “it failed to meet the standard (Unprofessional)”
“It wasn’t a place you would like to stay”
“I WOULDN’T LIKE TO GO BACK BECAUSE”
“it
was
a
Soulless
pit”
“It was high maintenance”
“It wasn’t
suitable because
foster carer had own child”
Section 3 We gathered young people’s views on 3 Corporate Parent agencies which they felt they engaged with most on leaving care. 3. Throughcare and Aftercare service
“Probably the best service available to young people more helpful than all the social workers I had”
“Helped
a
lot
good
service
always
on
call”
“I
have had a great team of support around me to help me through the hard times and helping me to move on to my own home and give me all the support I needed to get me to the next step of my life thanks to them all they were great”
“Good
service,
great
courses”
“Lots of support”
“Really helped my transition from care to left care”
“Essential for care leavers, great opportunities, got me a house, got me involved with tact panel, got me an apprenticeship”
“Lack
of
support
not
enough
money
to
live
on”
Great
time
but
let
my
self
down”
“Throughcare is pathetic”
“Give
me
money
for
clothes
every
6
months”
After Care = Amazing”
“Life
saver,
help
line”
“Give you a bus pass and then tell you to go on your way”
“Care = Crap
Dropped
me
like
a
stone
when
I
got
my
own
place
and
I
didn’t
feel
they
cared
enough
about
me”
“Useless”
3.4 Local councils
“Very
good
and
very
helpful”
“It’s
a
disaster”
“Pretend
to
care
when
they
clearly
just
want
to
muck
you
about
for
years”
“Given false Information”
“Helpful”
“Nice housing officers”
“They
need
to
be
more
organised”
“Waiting lists are too long”
“They
needs
major
help
to
get
themselves
sorted
before
they
tell
us
what
to
do”
“Could
be
improved
a
great
deal”
“Fast
track
offers
are
of
a
poor
standard”
“Failures”
“They have different services but they don’t advertise”
“Unhelpful”
I have just completed an apprenticeship, excellent opportunity, new home too
3.5 The Job Centre
“You get flung from pillar to post”
“They
are
helpful
with
forms”
“I don’t understand them and don’t find staff
helpful”
“Too complicated, and they mess up your payments”
The
Job
Centre
“They
help
with
money
to
get
through
the
weeks
ahead”
“Don’t
get
enough
money,
just
end
up
scraping
by”
“Very
unhelpful”
“It
feels
like
it’s
just
a
job
to
them”
Section 4 Voice of Reason the Aberdeen care leavers group are currently collating their findings so please get in touch if you would like to find out more.
Conclusions We have drawn together our findings in this report to support service providers and decision makers to develop services which reflect the views and needs of young people leaving care. As has been highlighted by this report, young people have a range of experiences when leaving care. Some are positive and some are negative. There is still a long way to go in improving options for care leavers, specifically in terms of accommodation as highlighted in this report. Practical and financial resources are imperative however it is clear that emotional support is also vital in order that young people flourish during this hugely challenging time in their lives. Young people told us that they feel alone, isolated and uncertain over their future. To help them deal with these difficult feelings they need people to listen to them and care about what is happening in their lives. The message from young people is that it’s the small things which can often have the biggest impact. Someone to listen to them and ask them how they are, to invite them in for a cup of tea and help them fill out a form. These are the things which help young people feel that they are not alone and that there are people in their lives that they can turn to when they need help. It is the time workers put in to building and fostering relationships with young people which can have the biggest impact on their lives. The Debate Project is keen to develop partnerships which support services to support the needs of care leavers. Please get in touch if you feel we can help.
[email protected] www.debateproject.org.uk www.scottishthroughcare.org.uk 37 Otago Street, 4th Floor, G12 8JJ 0141 357 4124
