Everyday objects paint a picture of children's lives in care
Every child deserves a safe, loving and stable home. Children in care are no different.
That's what we strive for in the children's homes and foster homes we provide. And that's what we're asking the government to deliver for every single child in care.
Growing up in care often means going through a lot of change. You can also be separated from people who are important to you like family, friends, or even teachers.
Physical things - your possessions you keep with you, or what's provided for you in each home - can help you feel safe, comforted and in touch with who you are. Whether it's books, photos, or a basket of toiletries, all these things have a place in building a home.
Care-experienced young people, Alex, Amelia, Rebecca and Christopher, have shared their memories of five objects and what they meant to them as children in care. Brought together, these memories tell a mostly unheard story of life in care:
Unless you’ve been in care yourself, it can be difficult to understand what it’s really like.
If you'd like to access this online activity as an offline pack covering 10 objects - contact us at [email protected].
Growing up in care, a child might live in a number of homes - their original family home, with extended family, foster carers, or in a residential home.
Every home will have it's own feel. The space, the decorations, the rules and routines. It can be a lot to adjust to.
In our latest report, we spoke to care-experienced people about what a good home in care looks like. They spoke about the pictures on the walls, how they could decorate their bedroom, even whether they were allowed to leave their shoes downstairs - or had to keep all their things in their room. Together, these had a huge impact on whether they felt at home.
It can be valuable for foster carers and children's home staff to consider what seemingly small details like these might mean to a child, so they can offer a warm and welcoming home.
"The design of a home is really important…I had a massive argument with one of my homes because they got fire door stickers on all of our doors…And things like having fire extinguishers in the hallway – I get that legally it’s got to be there, but there needs to be a way of making those still feel family-friendly.”
Young person
“Home shouldn’t be clinical and generic. In every single home I went in, there was a photo of a beach somewhere in the home. It was literally like ‘Where’s Wally?’ when I moved to a new home – I’d go and find it…"
Young person
We're calling on UK governments to help more children in care have what every child needs
