Local authorities
We provide local authorities with resources to better support children and young people in their care.
Our magazines reach out to looked-after children, offering the reassurance of shared experience and positive role models, while putting their experience in perspective. We also provide specialist resources for those responsible for the welfare of looked after children. We highlight best practice from local authorities across the UK and offer tailored consultancy and advice for individual groups (such as corporate parenting training for elected members).
Getting it right
We are always eager to hear about innovative work aimed at improving the experiences and outcomes of looked after children. Here we talk to the London Borough of Harrow about how their approach to care has changed in the last few years.
If your authority is doing something interesting with the children in its care, we'd love to hear about it - and possibly feature it on this site or in Who Cares? magazine. Get in touch at goodpractice@thewhocarestrust.org.uk
Magazines to support looked-after young people
Children and teenagers in care have the same hopes and anxieties as children anywhere. They may also have experiences which make them feel uniquely isolated, guilty or unwanted. Our magazines for children in care are a vital lifeline for 25,000 children across the UK to pool experience and hear positive stories about successful lives post-care. It's also a forum for raising issues about what still needs fixing.
Read more about our magazines here, and request a sample copy or a quote from Emma Wood on 020 7017 2787 or at emma.wood@thewhocarestrust.org.uk
Specialist resources for professionals
Explore our publications, covering education, employment, health and wellbeing, leaving care and policy and research. The result of wide consultation, with real life stories, we get past the theory to tackle how things work out on the ground and how local authorities can make things better.
The law and care
We speak to two people who support children in care using the law - which can sometimes bring them into conflict with local authorities. How do these legal organisations see the system?
Work experience for care leavers
The Who Cares? Trust is offering young people who have left care, from four pilot local authorities, a unique opportunity to have first hand employment placement opportunities with local businesses, through our Building Futures pilot project in partnership with Business in the Community (BITC). We are partnering with Bristol, Sheffield, Wolverhampton and Wrexham City Councils.
Up to 16 young people who have left care (aged 16 – 21 but with an emphasis on 18 – 21 year olds who are not in education, employment or training) will take part in the scheme in 2009.
At the end of the project we will publish recommendations targeted at the corporate sector and local authorities about how to run successful work placements for care leavers.