08 October 2019
Young people and adults with experience of living in care in Jersey have contributed to a national report that was published last week.
Jersey’s Children’s Rights Officer led a group of young people and care-experienced adults from Jersey to the first UK conference of its kind at Liverpool Hope University in April.
More than 150 care experienced people aged between 14 and 82 attended the conference to share their powerful, authentic accounts of key issues, and discussed ways to support people better in the future.
Last Thursday the report was made public and the top ten messages shared from the conference.
Children’s Rights Officer Sheree Maher, who was recently commended by the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry Panel who said that she has “been very active in establishing the role and making positive connections with young people in the care system”, is encouraging everyone to read the report.
She said: “This is such an important report and I hope that it is widely read. It gives a powerful insight into the experiences of children and adults in care.
“The Care Experience Conference was an incredible shared experience for the Jersey group. There was an overwhelming message that care-experienced people just want to be heard and to improve things so that in future children in care feel loved, valued and a have true sense of belonging.”
Some of the young people from Jersey who attended the conference said: “Hearing other people’s stories from around the UK made us feel very lucky with the care we have in Jersey compared to others. We heard stories from other young people, from the UK, who were treated quite badly, so we feel lucky.”
Summing up the conference in six words, the young people said the event was: “Inspirational, insightful, uplifting, educational, positive and powerful.”
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