The Care Journey
About the project
The Care Journey project was a piece of work established to explore and understand more about the types of support available to children and young people in the care system, affected by domestic abuse they’ve experienced. The aim was to understand key issues and risks, and to build a picture of what an effective trauma-informed intervention looks like for care experienced survivors to be able to experience safe, healthy, loving relationships.
Our findings
As part of scoping and research for the Care Journey project, the team spoke to 17 professionals with lived or professional experience, skills or knowledge of children’s social care and the care system.
Overall, conversations found that the current support for young people in the care system was inadequate in relation to support with recovery from domestic abuse, other adverse childhood experiences and support in forming their own healthy relationships.
Read the key findings from the Care Journey project
Our rapid literature review aimed to explore how care experienced people conceptualise, seek and experience their own intimate relationships, as well as how they seek support with them. Findings of the review aimed to identify key findings and gaps in research. The hope is that the findings contribute towards evidence used to design interventions and support around healthy relationships, and that these are adapted to the needs of the care experienced community.
Read the findings from the rapid literature review
The Care Journey, Next Chapter… event
SafeLives and Amour Destiné co-hosted an event, designed for care experienced people to come together, share their work and create a space for creativity, inspiration and solidarity. The event activities included:
- The Black Care Experience, Our Next Chapter – Judith Denton
- Emergent Poetry with Jamie Crabb
- What Would Love Do? – Jerome Harvey-Ageyi, The Tope Project
- Closing remarks from Dr Stacy Banwell - Gender Defiance Society, University of Greenwich
As an ex care child and working in local children's homes for several years as an adult, I believe that events like this are a great way to promote discussion, people's learning and understanding and thereby supporting change, growth and development.
Jayne
We invited Bridge the Gap Media to record the event, and we’re delighted to be able to share a video of highlights from the day.
Some of our friends..
There are so many brilliant organisations and individuals who are working with the care experienced community. Below are some that we have worked with and who attended our event:
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Aashna+ project supporting diverse communities to access therapy and social therapeutic communities
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African Advocacy Network - a community-led initiative supporting diaspora communities and marginalised people
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Article 39 - children's rights charity
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Artifacts CEP CIC - Face to face & virtual presentations, training sessions and creative workshops
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Jenny Young at Blue Cabin – Creative life story work and nurturing meaningful relationships
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Bridge the Gap Media - media production company
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Care Collective - a creative zine for care experienced individuals
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Care leavers legacy - online community for care experienced people
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D&A Diversity and Ability - social enterprise led by and for disabled people
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Elevated Youth - Ric Flo uses the art of rap, creativity and his experience in foster care to encourage positivity in young people.
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Federica Ciotti - Graphic Artist and Facilitator based in London
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Feeling Good Counselling: Call: 07828502154 / Email: feelinggoodcounselling@gmail.com / Twitter: @FGCounselling
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Jamie Crabb: care experienced counsellor and psychotherapist
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Mantra Music - Care Leaders Record Label
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Reclaim Care Collective - a group focused on healing, suppor, understanding shared histories and imagining possible futures
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Jacqueline McCarthy Rees Foundation Ambassador - offer help and advice to care experienced individuals
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Ric Flo - London based Rap Artist who grew up in foster care
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Siblings Together - provide opportunities for sibling contact, for children living in different care arrangements
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The Black Care Experience - Keeping Black Children and Young People connected to their Culture, Identity and Heritage as they journey through Children’s Social Care System. Twitter: @TheBlackCareExp
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'The Power of Perseverance and Resilience' by Isatu Haja Shaw Momoh. The author shares her story of of growing up in the foster care system
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The Tope Project - host events for young care leavers. Volunteer powered. Twitter: @TheTopeProject
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The Transformed You - Care Experienced Specialist providers of Intervention and Support Mentoring Programmes. Twitter: @Transformed2YOU
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Yaaseen Azam - care experienced designer who helped to develop the brochure for our event
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Your Life Your Story - Twitter: @YLifeYStory