Record numbers of young people in care

The harsh realities of many care leavers experiences have come into light in a recent BBC documentary that interviewed multiple young people from Wales over a 3 year period about their journey through the care system.

The young people shared their stories with actor, Michael Sheen, with one even stating that “prison would’ve been better for me”.

This heart-breaking statement highlights the severe circumstances that these young people have faced to where they think being in a prison would be better accommodation than where they have been placed in the past.

Many have been placed in B&Bs and hostels at young ages, where they were made to feel extremely unsafe and isolated.

However, this is nothing from the ordinary for young people in the care system as many placements can fall through, so they’re provided with the quickest solution which may not always be the best one for them. In the documentary, Gemma stated that she had “moved house 12 times by the time” she “was 15”.

Not only do these decisions effect their safety but it effects their social life, education, confidence and self-esteem as they lose friendships, consistently change schools, and become isolated due to moving into new uncommon areas with little to no notice. This is made clear from Hope’s story where she shares the effects of her sudden move which ended up with her sleeping rough at 16.

With record numbers of young people heading into care and the fact that last year, at least 50 children were housed in B&Bs, with more than 250 in other types of unregulated care, there needs to be a change.

At Transitions UK, we’re aware of the extremities that care leavers face on a day-to-day basis. Many are isolated, lonely, depressed or at risk of exploitation due to their surroundings. They receive very little support and once they turn 18, the support reduces even more and many result to crime to provide for themselves.

We see first-hand through our Attain Project, the dangers our care leavers can easily end up in and how they’re at a serious disadvantage when it comes to moving on into independence.

We provide a 2-year, person-centred, mentoring and befriending service that aims to better the lives and futures of those struggling. Each young person is different so their journey is tailored by them and with the help of a mentor they can help to take them in a much more positive direction. We support those with personal development, confidence, self-esteem, harm reducing, their risk of exploitation, education, accommodation and employability.

This documentary was made aware to us by one of our Attain Project volunteers who stated that he “read an article on the BBC about care leavers which got” his “blood boiling”.

The same volunteer recently mentioned wanting to “continue helping’ their young person” and felt they “would be able to help another young person too”.

This is amazing feedback for the charity as we’re able to assume that the volunteer enjoys what they are doing and wants to continue changing more young lives. At Transitions UK, we’re always happy to allocate a volunteer more than one young person if they feel they have the capacity to do so

If you’re interested in supporting young people who are leaving care and moving towards independence then register your interest today!