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Junior Listen and Care Council

The Junior Listen and Care Council is a group of children in care aged between 8 to 13 years old who meet twice a month to take part in activity based sessions and have a say on issues that are important to them.

In the group’s words, "It is about getting together and having fun, meeting new people and being able to say what we feel."

The group have one arts & crafts session and one activity a month. Nick Barge is the lead worker and can be contacted on 01752 308900 or via email: participation.youth@plymouth.gov.uk

The Participation Team have created a set of aspirations for group work with children in care and care experienced young people. These have been shared with the group members who in turn, have created their own.

Young people’s aspirations for the group

  • to meet up with friends in the group and have some fun
  • to have some fun away from other children in the same placement as us
  • to have some time away from our foster carers
  • to have a space were our views and wishes can be heard

Participation Team aspirations for the Junior Listen and Care Council

  • to create vibrant and exciting spaces where young people are motivated to be involved in participation activities and consultation to provide feedback and improvement to services affecting them.
  • to have a range of methods to engage with children and young people in care or with care experience including social media, phone contact, face to face and group work
  • to provide a clear framework for young people to transition through the different age groups and become involved and engaged with other groups such as those working closely with Corporate Parenting, Plymouth Safeguarding Children’s Partnership and the Academy of Social Work Plymouth
  • to support young people to identify their priorities for improvement and facilitate them to challenge systems and practice to effect positive change
  • to support children and young people’s learning and knowledge around their journey
  • to hear children and young people’s stories so that they can be used to evidence need for change and/or to celebrate success
  • to enable young people to be aware of their rights and opportunities so they are able to become active participants in society and make fully informed decisions whenever possible
  • to combat social isolation and develop ability to have positive interactions and relationships with both their peers and professionals
  • to participate in national initiatives to enable a wider platform for Plymouth children and young people to be heard and to learn from others