About the project
Entering care can be an overwhelming experience. For some children and young people, it means arriving somewhere unfamiliar, meeting new people and facing uncertainty about what happens next. Young people in Lancashire believe that how someone is welcomed during this
experience can make a real difference.
Their Welcome Box project was shaped by conversations with care-experienced young people about what entering care felt like, what could have been better and what might have helped them feel more comfortable and supported. Inspired by experiences of arriving at new homes with very few belongings, sometimes carried in black bin bags, the group wanted to create something practical that would help young people feel welcomed, reassured and valued from the beginning.
The project has been shaped and led by young people themselves, from deciding what should go into the boxes to sharing their learning with professionals.
What do young people want to change?
At the heart of Welcome Box is a belief that every child and young person entering care should feel welcomed, included and supported, knowing that those around them are prepared for their arrival and ready to make them feel at home, rather than isolated, frightened or forgotten. The group have particularly highlighted the importance of the first night in care, recognising that this can be an anxious and unfamiliar time.
They want young people to have something that belongs to them, alongside reassurance that they matter and that people are there to support them. The group also recognise that small, thoughtful gestures can make a significant difference, whether that’s providing practical essentials, something comforting or a personal welcome message.
Importantly, their ambition goes beyond a one-off gesture. They want feeling welcomed and supported to become a consistent part of every young person’s experience of entering care.
Taking the idea further
The Welcome Box was selected by A National Voice Ambassadors and other young people to take part in Amplified by Care Experience (ABCE). Young people in Lancashire are now exploring two resources to help Welcome Box reach beyond their local area and encourage wider change.
The first resource is a film, building on a video the group have already created. They want to develop a more professionally produced resource that shares young people’s experiences, demonstrates why Welcome Box matters and encourages other local authorities to consider similar approaches.
The second resource is a practical Welcome Box guidance pack, building on materials the group have already developed. They want to create a clearer resource sharing examples of box contents, their experiences and learning, and guidance to help other areas introduce or adapt their own approach.
Together, these resources aim to help other local authorities understand both why welcoming young people into care matters and how they could take action themselves. The group recognise that different areas may need different approaches depending on young people’s ages, needs and circumstances. Their ambition is not necessarily for every authority to provide identical boxes, but for all young people to experience the same principles of welcome, reassurance and care.
They also believe that care-experienced young people should be involved in shaping these approaches, ensuring the support reflects what young people themselves say they need.
What happens next?
Through Amplified by Care Experience, Lancashire will continue developing their film and guidance pack, while exploring opportunities to share their experiences and learning with local authorities and professionals nationally.
The group are particularly interested in connecting with other areas, sharing what they have learned and encouraging more services to make thoughtful, consistent welcomes part of everyday practice. Their ambition is not simply for more Welcome Boxes to exist, but for more children and young people to have a positive experience of entering care. One of the group’s most powerful aspirations captures what they hope to achieve:
“Someone having a better experience than me.”
We look forward to sharing more as their work progresses.
Want to hear more or get involved?
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