Growing up in care
Growing up can be a minefield for any young person as they learn about sexuality and decide on their values and what they want from life. Most have to deal with some sort of problem - from spots and dandruff at one end to drugs, bullying or depression at the other.
Without sufficient individualised support, a child in care is more vulnerable to the problems of adolescence getting out of hand. Girls are more likely to become pregnant as teenagers, and it's easier for a young person to get sucked into drug and alcohol misuse if they don't have respected adults who offer them an alternative path.
Especially for a teenager who has moved placement many times, it's important that adults don't all assume that 'somebody else' has had conversations with the young person about everything from personal hygiene to peer pressure.
We've found some examples of excellent practice - such as Harrow Council's group for children in care where groups discuss everything from their 'game plan' for girlfriends and boyfriends to how to cook. Often the same conversations will happen informally with a good foster carer or mentor. But the statistics show that many young people find themselves in a mess that that they can't easily get out of.
What we do
The Who Cares Trust publishes advice for young people in care to cope with some of these issues.