In autumn 2024, following the general election and appointment of a new Children’s Minister, A National Voice (ANV), the Children in Care Council for England, launched a consultation to gather the views of care-experienced young people.
We asked: What do you want the new Children’s Minister to focus on to make care better?
325 children and young people from 45 local authorities took part, sharing their priorities, personal experiences, and powerful messages for change.
Our top three priorities
Better mental health support
Young people told us their mental health impacts every part of life and that current services are too stretched and difficult to access.
Listen to young people in decisions about their lives
They want to be involved in decisions that affect them, not just tick-boxed – real listening, transparency, and respect matter.
Build good relationships
Children and young people value consistency and connection. They want professionals, carers, and services they can trust and build lasting relationships with.
Who took part?
- 325 care-experienced children and young people
- Responses came from 45 local authorities across England
- Aged 4–26+, with half under 18 and half over 18
- A good mix of backgrounds, genders, ethnicities, and abilities
- 282 participated through group workshops (run at events like Amplify or locally by CiCCs), and 43 responded individually online
Read the Messages to the Minister report and summary
These documents outline the key messages shared by young people, along with powerful quotes and insight into what they feel needs to change in the care system.
Messages to the MinisterWhat’s next?
The consultation may be complete, but our campaign isn’t. Right now, ANV Ambassadors are:
- Carefully reviewing every individual quote shared by young people in the consultation
- Using those quotes to write specific recommendations to the Minister
- Creating broader recommendations based on the overall findings and themes
- Preparing to present the findings and recommendations in a meeting with the Children’s Minister
- Planning a separate follow-up session for care-experienced young people and our ANV network to meet the Minister and share their views directly
We believe the voices of children and young people must lead the change, and we’re committed to making sure they’re heard loud and clear.
Watch this space!
We’ll be sharing updates as our work continues and new steps are taken.
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