In October 2024, care-experienced children and young people across England shared what they want the Children’s Minister to focus on. Coram Voice’s A National Voice (ANV) has turned those words into clear recommendations across three priority areas.
Download PDFs of each priority briefing paper below, or scroll down for further information.
Background
This builds on our Messages to the Minister work, where care-experienced children and young people shared their views on the future of children’s social care. A National Voice then worked with their messages and quotes to turn them into clear, practical recommendations.
Who was involved
- 325 care-experienced children and young people helped shape these recommendations
- Voices were shared from 45 different local authorities across England
Read the original consultation summary: Messages to the Minister: what care-experienced children and young people want from the new government – Messages to the Minister: what care-experienced children and young people want from the new government – Coram Voice
The priorities
The three briefing papers reflect the priorities identified by young people in this order:
- Mental health support
- Listening to children and young people in decisions about their lives
- Building good relationships
How the recommendations are ordered
Mental health was identified as the top priority in ANV’s original consultation. At Amplify (A National Voice’s annual event), young people took part in an activity focused on mental health to help identify which recommendations should be prioritised first. Four headline recommendations came out of that exercise and are listed first, in order. Any additional recommendations in the mental health briefing paper are not presented in a ranked order.
In the Listening and Relationships briefing papers, recommendations are not presented in a ranked or priority order.
How these recommendations will be used
A National Voice Ambassadors will be sharing these briefing papers directly with the Children’s Minister. While all recommendations reflect what young people told us, we will place particular focus on the top mental health priorities identified at Amplify. For the remaining recommendations, we are especially keen to gather examples of practice from across the country to share alongside young people’s messages. Details on how to get involved are at the end of this page.
What young people said should be prioritised first: mental health
At Amplify, young people consistently scored the following four mental health recommendations the highest:
- Make mental health support opt-out for young people entering care
- Continue providing services until age 25
- Early and needs-based intervention
- Consistency and trust in support
You can read the detail and additional recommendations in the full mental health briefing paper below.
Download the briefing papers
Mental health support (Priority 1)
Recommendations to the Children’s Minister on mental health support for care-experienced children and young people, including four headline priorities identified at Amplify. Download a PDF version here.
Listening to children and young people in decisions about their lives (Priority 2)
Recommendations on ensuring young people are genuinely involved in decisions about their lives and that their views lead to action. Download a PDF version here.
Building good relationships (Priority 3)
Recommendations on stability, trust, and relationships that help young people feel supported, respected, and able to thrive. Download a PDF version here.
The briefing papers are designed to be read separately, but they connect and overlap in places.
What young people told us
“Listening to children and young people. The decisions made about our lives are often out of our control and without considering the people who know us best… us. It creates chaos and fear in young people which lasts a lifetime.”
“Because people come and go from our lives, we don’t have the chance to build up a good relationship with them… there’s too much change.”
“We should be asked more about who we want and need in our lives, whether that’s family or workers.”
Get involved
Help turn recommendations into real change
After reading the briefing papers, you may find recommendations that:
- you are already doing well in your area and could share as a practice example, or
- you would like to focus on locally and feedback what happens, including any impact or learning.
We believe in sharing what works and helping good ideas spread. If you have an example to share or would like to trial an approach and tell us what you learn, please email ANV@coramvoice.org.uk.
When you get in touch, it helps if you include:
- which briefing paper and recommendation you are referring to
- where the work is taking place (local authority, region, or organisation)
- a short summary of what you are doing already, or what you would like to focus on
- any early outcomes, feedback, or learning (if you have it)
Where appropriate, we will share learning and practice examples with the Minister and wider partners to help good practice travel further.
About A National Voice
A National Voice is the national children in care council for England. It is led by care-experienced young people aged 16 to 25, known as ambassadors, from across the country. Together they gather the views of children in care and care leavers, share what young people are saying, and work with decision makers, professionals and government so young people’s experiences directly shape policy and practice.