About the project
For many children and young people, personal belongings are much more than everyday objects. They hold memories, offer comfort and provide a sense of familiarity during periods of uncertainty and change.
But what happens when those belongings are lost, damaged or treated without care?
That’s the issue young people in East Sussex want to address through My Things Matter.
Inspired by experiences of belongings being lost, broken, damaged or not treated appropriately during moves, the group want to raise awareness of why the way children’s possessions are handled matters so much. Their message is simple but powerful: young people’s belongings matter, and how those belongings are treated matters too.
What do young people want to change?
The group want children and young people to feel valued, respected and supported when moving into, out of or between placements and homes.
They recognise that moves can already be difficult experiences. Having personal possessions damaged or mishandled can add to that distress and affect how young people feel about the care and respect they receive.
Through My Things Matter, the group want to encourage a more thoughtful and consistent approach to protecting children’s belongings.
Their ambition is for good practice to become something that happens routinely, rather than depending on individual professionals or services.
Ultimately, they want their experiences and learning to help prevent other children and young people from facing similar difficulties.
Taking the idea further
My Things Matter was selected by A National Voice Ambassadors and other young people to take part in Amplified by Care Experience (ABCE). The young people are now developing two resources to help My Things Matter reach beyond East Sussex and encourage wider change.
The first resource is a short film, showing the experience of a young person whose belongings are damaged during a move, followed by a more positive experience using the My Things Matter box. The group have already written a script and are planning to use their own creative skills to bring the story to life.
The second resource is a practical document pack, designed to help other local authorities introduce or adapt the approach. The group have begun exploring a step-by-step resource sharing their experiences, the challenges they’ve encountered and what others could learn from their journey.
Together, these resources aim to help other areas understand both why My Things Matter is important and how they could take action themselves.
Importantly, the group don’t expect every authority to introduce an identical approach. Their ambition is for other areas to learn from the principles behind My Things Matter and adapt them to meet the needs of their own children and young people.
Ultimately, they want My Things Matter to be used “everywhere and regularly”, helping make the respectful treatment of children’s belongings a consistent part of everyday practice.
What happens next?
Through Amplified by Care Experience, East Sussex will continue developing their film and document pack, while exploring opportunities to share their experiences and learning with local authorities and professionals nationally.
The group are particularly interested in making connections with organisations and services that could help their message reach wider audiences and encourage others to take action.
Their goal is clear: children’s belongings should be treated with dignity and respect, wherever they live or move.
We look forward to sharing more as their work progresses.
Want to hear more or get involved?
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