We Do Care – Get Involved
Our We Do Care programme helps the voices of care-experienced children and young people be heard and acted on. We run fun activities that help build confidence and social skills, while also gathering ideas to shape council policies and programmes affecting young people in care.
About our participation forums
We Do Care provides care-experienced children and young people with the opportunity to connect with others who have similar experiences, have fun, develop social skills, and share feedback and ideas for improving our care services.
Juniors
At our Juniors sessions, children aged 5 to 12 have loads of fun in a warm and friendly space where they can open up through play, art and exploration. This helps us better understand their experiences of care and hear their ideas and feedback for improving services.
Care Ambassadors
Care Ambassadors represent care-experienced children and young people by providing feedback and ideas, meeting with professionals and decision-makers, and leading their own projects. At the same time, they build friendships, share experiences and develop new skills.
At the heart of We Do Care
“The best part of my job is building long-term relationships with our children and young people. We are here for them as they navigate childhood and transition into adulthood, experiencing different parts of the care system along the way. Being a consistent person is so important for children and young people who have experienced a lot of change. I’ve had the joy of working with some of these young people for almost 10 years, watching them grow, make new friendships, settle into schools, jobs, colleges and university. They make me so proud!”
– Angel, Youth Participation Worker for We Do Care
“The space We Do Care provides for our young people is so valuable and we would be lost without it. We started working with We Do Care around 8 years ago, and I can wholeheartedly say, that without We Do Care, our young people would have found coming to terms with being in care so much more difficult. It should never be underestimated how therapeutic the groups are – they allow our young people to meet others with similar backgrounds, explore and reflect on their own selves and recognise that they are not the only ones unable to live in whatever their biological family home may be. We have personally seen the growth, confidence and self acceptance of young people in our care, who take part in We Do Care’s groups.”
– Becky, Foster Carer
How we listen, act, and respond
We Do Care provides a way for social workers, managers, and decision-makers to listen, to gather ideas, and to better understand the experiences of children and young people in care.
Speak Up
Poem by a young person
Don’t say something bad.
Don’t be sad.
Talk to your social worker
Or a youth worker.
Talk, Share your feelings.
Talk, about things that help your dealings.
Music, drawing, loads of things
Can help you.
Share this with people too.
Positive things go through your head.
Think of happy things instead.
Speak up.
Positiveness.
