A campaign to end the use of bin bags when children in care move home has surpassed 50 sign ups.

My Things Matter, a campaign run by NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service), asks local authorities across England and Wales to make sure children and young people are treated with respect and dignity when they move home in care.

The 50th sign up to the campaign came from Cardiff Council, and was quickly followed by Southend-on-Sea, Blaenau-Gwent and Barnsley.

Cardiff Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Services, Cllr Ash Lister said: “Ensuring that all children in care feel self-worth and are respected is priority. Moving home can be an anxious and stressful time for anyone, but particularly for young people who may have already experienced turbulence and upset during their lives. We are committed to making this a smooth and dignified transition where young people feel supported, in line with Cardiff’s ambition of becoming a UNICEF UK Child Friendly City.

“Our children and young people deserve the very best and that’s why we’re so proud to sign NYAS’  ‘My Things Matter’ pledge and hope more Local Authorities will join us.”

 

Candice Lloyd from NYAS, Cllr Rhys Taylor, Cllr Christopher Lay, Cllr Ash Lister, Cllr Sarah Merry, Cllr Peter Littlechild

NYAS found that every 20 minutes a child moves home while in care, yet only 1 in 3 local authorities provide formal written guidance for staff and carers to support children experiencing moves. Daniel, a care-experienced young person, felt his belongings were unsafe when he moved home.

 

 

As part of the charity’s My Things Matter campaign, NYAS has written to all local authority directors of children services across England and Wales responsible for securing the provision of services which address the needs of all children and young people, asking them to sign the campaign pledge.

NYAS’ My Things Matter campaign is supported by Madlug, an award-winning bag brand, to provide thousands of children in care with sturdy luggage to make sure that no child is forced to move their belongings using bin bags. Local authorities who sign up to My Things Matter can receive free Madlug bags for children in care.

NYAS asks local authorities who sign up to the My Things Matter campaign to pledge to children and young people in their care to:

  1. Keep their most precious belongings safe during their move and promise they will not be moved in bin bags.
  2. Provide written guidance for them and anyone helping them to move.
  3. Never move or throw away their belongings without their consent and always respect their personal property.
  4. Support them to make a complaint if any of their belongings have been lost or damaged during their move. And finally,
  5. Communicate with them about their move and ask how the move went.

Rita Waters, NYAS Group Chief Executive, said: “I am so proud of the difference our campaign is making and I am delighted to see the number of local authorities signing up to the My Things Matter pledge, increasing month on month.  We still have some local authorities yet to sign up and I would like to urge all of them to sign up to the My Things Matter pledge without delay and make a public statement to treat care experienced children and their belongings with respect and dignity during a placement move.  I look forward to seeing more local authorities joining with NYAS in this important pledge to children and young people.”

 

Want to help the campaign? You can see if your local authority has pledged and how to write to your local councillor about the campaign here.

 

Want to find out more?

You can find out more about My Things Matter, read the campaign report, find a template to write to your local councillor and more.

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