'Speaking Out for Children in Care' Group

Hi,

We are the Speaking Out for Children in Care Group (the S.C.C!).

We meet on a fortnightly basis with staff from Social Services for Children and the National Youth Advocacy Service to discuss how to make things better for kids in care – just like us!

We want to tell you a little more about who we are and what we have achieved. Plus, what we have planned for the year ahead so that you can get involved!

• The S.C.C group members are:
• Chelsea
• Cody
• Dawn
• Dean
• Jake
• Tom

We are all aged between 12 & 17. We work with 6 members of staff - Alison, Ian, Tracy J, Caroline, Tracie D - and a representative from the National Youth Advocacy Service.

Our goal is to help young people in care get involved and to give everyone the chance to be heard. By telling Social Services and the Council what we think, it helps them know what we want in future.

What Have the S.C.C. Achieved?

• In 2009, we won an Excellence Flintshire award for our hard work! Plus, we won an Excellence Wales award in 2006.
• We have produced welcome packs for children coming into care. The packs contain toiletries, information leaflets, a phone card and messages of support from the group.
• We organise regular Speak-Out events to give young people the chance to have a say about Social Services for Children. A Speak-Out is a fun event where you get to say what you think and what you think should be changed. There is always a fun activity, like ice-skating, at the end of a Speak-Out.
• We help to arrange the Pride of Flintshire awards. The awards celebrate the achievements of young people in care and care leavers.
• We have interviewed people for jobs in Social Services. The last job we interviewed for was the Looked After Children’s Nurse. We have also interviewed advocates for the National Youth Advocacy Service.
• One group member, Tom, sits on the Children’s Services Forum (this a really important meeting where lots of decisions are made) & we ensure young people have a voice.
• Individually we have developed lots of new skills such as confidence, interview skills, minute taking skills, how to chair a meeting, how to work as a team and getting to know new people.

If you have time please check out our latest Speak Out Reports and newsletters below:

Summer Newsletter - Click Here

How To Get Involved

You are welcome to apply and join the S.C.C or attend a Speak Out.
We organise Speak-Out events during school holidays & everyone is written to in advance and given an invite.

If you have an issue you want the S.C.C group to discuss at their meetings please contact us. You can telephone Alison Kulkowski on 01352 702655 or you could e-mail us on speak-out@hotmail.co.uk or if you want post off your views to:

Alison Kulkowski
Social Services for Children
County Hall
Mold
Flintshire
CH7 6ND

Thanks for taking the time to read our page.