Could you help steer and govern a leading, high profile and dynamic East Anglian charity to new heights?

Are you committed to improving young lives?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity to join our organisation as a Trustee (voluntary position).

We are particularly seeking to recruit to the Board applicants with experience in children’s social care or expertise in strategic People and Culture leadership – from Human Resources or Organisational Development background

What we are looking for:
We are seeking to recruit trustees with different areas of expertise who are committed to helping us to deliver our vision and mission.

For this trustee role we would particularly love to hear from you if you are wanting to bring your extensive experience working at a senior leadership and / or executive leadership level in the People, HR, Culture and / or Organisation Development space. It would also be an advantage if you have supported complex organisations through significant periods of change and navigated ambitious strategies.

We are particularly interested in hearing from applicants with expertise in one of the following areas:

• Strategic leadership in children’s social care services
• HR professional experience
• People, including young adults, who were in the care system themselves or who have lived experience of the care system
• This is an opportunity to join an experienced and dedicated Trustee Board, working alongside a professional and skilled Senior Management Team that lead an agile and highly qualified workforce, to give the very best care to each young person in our services.

About the Role
As a Break trustee, you will play a vital role in providing strategic leadership, oversight, and support to the organisation. You will help ensure we continue to deliver on our vision and mission while maintaining strong governance and sustainable growth.

Click here for more details.

Rocky first joined Break in 2005, beginning his journey as a support worker before progressing through senior roles to eventually lead services. His career has been shaped by strong relationships, belief from others, and a commitment to giving young people the chances he once felt he didn’t have. 

What motivated you to start a career in care? 
At school, I wasn’t really given much of a chance. I played the clown because that’s what people seemed to expect of me. I didn't ever really want to go into a specific trade, but after leaving school, I got involved in football coaching and found that I loved working with young people – building relationships, helping them and being part of their world.

I started thinking about having more of a career and when I saw an advert for Break in the newspaper, something clicked. I’ve always felt like I wanted to help people, doing something where I could be myself and make a difference, so I decided to give it a go. 

What helped you progress from a support worker to a managerial role at Break? 
When I first started as a support worker, I didn’t really know much about residential homes. But I had a great manager who was really supportive and encouraged me to build relationships, try new things out and support the team, so that helped me from the very beginning. My progression wasn’t something I pushed for at first. I never said, “I want to be more senior” or “I want to be a manager.” Instead, people tapped me on the shoulder and said, “You’d be good at that.”

Looking back now, I probably lacked some self-belief because of my experiences at school and not being given much opportunity. But some key people at Break saw something in me and supported me. From support worker to head of services, Break has given me opportunities, training, and wrap‑around support every step of the way. 

Click here to read the full article. 

At Break, we’re passionate about creating opportunities that help care-experienced young people build confidence, develop new skills, and explore pathways for their future. That’s why we were delighted to once again partner with the University of East Anglia (UEA) to deliver a six-week Digital Skills Programme for some of the young people we support.

The programme was designed to introduce young people to a range of digital and marketing topics, equipping them with practical skills that are increasingly essential in today’s world. From website analysis and digital marketing to cyber security, personal safety online and the growing role of artificial intelligence, participants explored how technology shapes both our daily lives and modern business.

For the first time, the course took place on UEA’s campus, giving young people the opportunity to experience university life first-hand and learn in a new environment. Alongside developing digital knowledge, the programme encouraged participants to think creatively, work collaboratively, and build confidence in sharing their ideas.

Click here to read the full article.

The Vacancy
Trustee – Children’s Social Care and People and Culture Specialist
 
Could you help steer and govern a leading, high profile and dynamic East Anglian charity to new heights?

Are you committed to improving young lives?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity to join our organisation as a Trustee (voluntary position).

We are particularly seeking to recruit to the Board applicants with experience in children’s social care or expertise in strategic People and Culture leadership – from Human Resources or Organisational Development background
 
What we are looking for:

We are seeking to recruit trustees with different areas of expertise who are committed to helping us to deliver our vision and mission.

For this trustee role we would particularly love to hear from you if you are wanting to bring your extensive experience working at a senior leadership and / or executive leadership level in the People, HR, Culture and / or Organisation Development space. It would also be an advantage if you have supported complex organisations through significant periods of change and navigated ambitious strategies.

We are particularly interested in hearing from applicants with expertise in one of the following areas:

• Strategic leadership in children’s social care services
• HR professional experience
• People, including young adults, who were in the care system themselves or who have lived experience of the care system
• This is an opportunity to join an experienced and dedicated Trustee Board, working alongside a professional and skilled Senior Management Team that lead an agile and highly qualified workforce, to give the very best care to each young person in our services.

About the Role
As a Break trustee, you will play a vital role in providing strategic leadership, oversight, and support to the organisation. You will help ensure we continue to deliver on our vision and mission while maintaining strong governance and sustainable growth.

Key responsibilities include:​

• Helping to shape and steer the organisation’s strategic direction
• Supporting the governance of a large and complex organisation
• Understanding the distinction between governance and operational management
• Contributing strategic and creative thinking to Board discussions
• Setting clear organisational objectives and monitoring performance
• Acting as an ambassador and role model for the organisation’s values
• Encouraging excellence and motivating others to achieve high standards.

Click here for full details

As a Co Production and Aspiration Lead, you’ll be working hands on with care experienced young people. You will be an active part in these young peoples lives supporting there wellbeing and aspirations through a range of activities designed to broaden their horizons and increase their comfort zone. You will create safe and nurturing environments where young people can share their views and opinions on the care they receive. You will host activities which give them a chance to try new things, discover new interests and support them to pursue their goals while building their confidence and self-esteem.

You’ll work with a tight-knit team of colleagues to build relationships with the young people accessing our service. You’ll be a positive role model, supporting them in overcoming their previous trauma and learning to trust in adults again, along with the help and guidance of your colleagues and Break’s therapeutic services. You will encourage new experiences, supporting the young people to develop their own identity and having their voices heard.

You’ll be patient, thrive in a team environment, able to support those around you and have the emotional intelligence and resilience to manage challenging situations.

To be successful in the role you’ll be a good team player, and a problem solver.

Please note that you must have a full, valid, manual driving licence. 

Click here for full job details.

Alyse, a care-experienced young person, has shared a powerful personal reflection on how Break's Emotional Wellbeing Service (EWS) helped her regulate her feelings, complete her degree, and return to university. 

Alyse describes her experience as “fundamentally different” from previous mental health support, highlighting the importance of long-term, relationship-based care for young people with care experience.

The EWS supports young people aged 16–25 across Norfolk, Cambridge and Peterborough, offering flexible, trauma-informed support tailored to individual needs.   

Reflecting on her journey, Alyse said: “For the first time, I have felt truly seen. Having consistent, long-term support has been the missing piece for me. The difference lies in the interpersonal relationships I have built with my therapists.” 

Alyse explains that previous short-term therapy felt focused on managing symptoms, rather than understanding the deeper impact of her experiences growing up in care. 

“My therapists did not treat me like a problem to be solved; they treated me like a person to be understood. Because of this consistent care, I have been able to regulate my emotions, complete my degree, and return to university. Having my experiences validated and my emotions cared for at this level has been life-changing.” 

Her experience reflects the importance of consistent mental health support for care-experienced young people, particularly as national reforms to children’s social care continue to develop. While recent plans have highlighted the value of stable relationships, more recognition is needed around access to long-term, trauma-informed emotional wellbeing support. 

The EWS is part of Break’s wider therapeutic offer and takes a relational, trauma-informed approach, recognising that traditional models of support do not always meet the needs of care-experienced young people. Sessions are flexible and designed around the individual, with support taking place not only in therapy rooms but also in everyday environments such as walks or informal settings, helping young people feel more comfortable. 

Click here to read the full article.

A local family has shared how our short breaks service helped them care for their son with complex needs.

Annalisa and her husband Robin say Nelson Lodge, Break’s residential short breaks home for children with complex disabilities, provided ‘an absolute lifeline’ as they raised their son Giacomo, known as Giac. 

Giac, now 19, has severe learning disabilities, autism and is non-verbal. He needs constant supervision to keep him safe and has often struggled with sleep, making family life particularly challenging. 

Annalisa said: “Nelson Lodge was an absolute lifeline for us while Giac was growing up. He first went when he was six and continued going for regular short breaks until he turned 18. The breaks meant that we were able to keep him with us as he was growing up, as they gave us a chance to recharge. 

"We both work, doing shifts and weekends, and we have two other children too. The breaks stopped us from burning out and gave us the chance to spend quality time with our other children. It also meant that we could go out with family and friends, maintaining important friendships and relationships.” 

Nelson Lodge supports children and young people aged five to 18 with complex needs, offering specialist care, tailored activities and a safe environment while giving families essential respite. In addition, the team at the lodge played a key role in Giac’s development and wellbeing. 

Click here to read the full article.

Last week, we were pleased to see the Government’s announcement setting out the next steps for reforming children’s social care.  

As a charity supporting young people in and leaving care across the East of England, we believe that the focus on greater multi-agency working and a renewed emphasis on stable, lifelong relationships represent a significant opportunity to ensure children have the support networks they need to thrive.   

The Government’s plans to expand foster care and strengthen support for care leavers represent an important step toward a system that truly prioritises children and young people’s needs. These plans will help more children grow up in stable, loving homes, and address the ‘cliff edge’ many young people experience when leaving care. As one of the first organisations to pilot a Staying Close programme, we have seen first-hand the difference ongoing support and relationships can make as young people move into adulthood.  

Click here to read the full article.

If you’re already fostering, you’ll know the impact a calm, consistent home can have on a child. You’ll also know how important the right support around you is in making fostering sustainable.

Some fosters carers consider transferring agency, but the process can feel daunting. There’s often a concern that it means starting again or disrupting what’s already working for the child in your care. In reality, transferring can be much simpler than people expect. 

It doesn’t mean starting over 

Transferring isn’t about undoing what you’ve built. Your experience, your relationships and what already works for your family matter. At Break, our approach is to understand your current situation and build on it. The focus stays on stability for the child and support for you. 

Click here to read the full article.

Children who come into foster care often arrive with ways of thinking, behaving and relating that have helped them survive difficult early experiences. Trauma‑informed fostering starts with understanding this — and responding in ways that prioritise safety, connection and healing.

At Break, trauma‑informed care is something our foster carers are supported to use every day, with guidance from our therapeutic practitioner and supervising social workers.

Understanding trauma and the developing brain
When children experience ongoing stress, fear, neglect or instability early in life, their brains develop around survival. The brain’s alarm system becomes highly sensitive, keeping the child on high alert even when they are safe.

In these moments, the parts of the brain responsible for emotional regulation, problem‑solving and learning are much harder to access. Behaviour that looks unpredictable or challenging is often a survival response shaped by earlier experiences, showing up in the present.

Calm the body before guiding behaviour
One of the key principles we share with foster carers is: calm the body, then guide the behaviour.

When a child’s nervous system is in survival mode (fight, flight, freeze or shutdown), they aren't in a space to be able to listen to reasoning or correction. Regulation has to come first. This is where practical, everyday techniques make a real difference.

Grounding: coming back to the present 
Grounding techniques help children (and adults) reconnect with the present moment when emotions feel overwhelming. These can be as simple as: 

slow, deep breathing, such as ‘blowing out candles’ 
noticing the senses, like naming things you can see, hear or touch. 
These techniques work best when they’re practised during calm moments, not just in crises. Over time, they become familiar, intentional tools children can draw on when big feelings arise. 

Click here to read the full article.