FtSE Member News: Challenge 4 Change showcase work in Westminster

On 11 July 2012, Challenge 4 Change, St Christopher’s young people’s participation panel, had the opportunity to showcase its work at The Who Cares? Trust event in Westminster.

The Challenge 4 Change team (C4C) joined MPs, local authorities, 120 young people, social workers and Children in Care Councils from across the country to celebrate the excellent work being done to encourage young people's participation in the care system and to share innovative ideas. 

The C4C team were able to highlight the new participation groups in the West Midlands that offer peer to peer support for our children in foster care; the way any written communication for young people is checked for plain English and endorsed with a 'C4C approved' logo; and the 'What's your problem?' survey that collected views from all our young people and ensured they were considered by senior managers when planning and delivering services. 

The evening was part of The Who Cares? Trust's on-going Listen Up! Project;  designed to give a voice to young people in care and empower them to influence professionals and policy makers at the highest levels.

Natasha Finlayson, Who Cares? Trust Chief Executive, said:

"It seems that children in care are in the news almost every week. We hear about their poor outcomes, what's going wrong and what the system must do to change. But we don't hear about how, right across the country, children and young people are standing up and making a difference in the care system for their area. This event was a great opportunity to showcase the wonderful work young people are doing and tell people in power how they can change the care system for the better."

Source: www.stchris.org.uk/news/Challenge-4-Change-showcase-work-in-Westminster.aspx