Research shows that children born to care-experienced mothers are disproportionately more likely to become involved in child protection proceedings and to enter care compared with those born to young women without care experience. The National Youth Advocacy Servce (NYAS) Cymru’s Project Unity works to break this cycle of intergenerational care by providing dedicated advocacy and support to young mothers navigating these systems.
On Wednesday March 11th, NYAS Cymru visited the Senedd for an event where they published a new report, HER Story: The Impact of Project Unity in Wales, highlighting the difference the Project Unity service has made to care-experienced young mothers over the past five years.
You can read more about the service and access the reports on the Project Unity webpage.
NYAS were joined by our supporters, partners, colleagues, Sioned Williams who chaired the event, and the Minister for Children and Social Care (Wales), Dawn Bowden MS - amongst other representatives. Most importantly, we also heard from young women who have been directly supported by Project Unity, who bravely shared their own experiences.
"It was my pleasure to chair this event for NYAS – Project Unity is a vital and effective project, which supports care-experienced mothers. We heard some important evidence, and we also had extremely impactful lived experiences recounted to us by some of the young mothers that Project Unity has helped. I think that’s going to stay with people who came to this event for a very long time, and made us really understand the crucial importance of this project." - Sioned Williams MS
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Image caption: Minister for Children and Social Care, Dawn Bowden, speaks at the event
About the HER Story research
The HER Story report is based on research carried out in 2024 with young women and girls who received support from Project Unity before, during, or after pregnancy.
Surveys were sent to 70 young women, with 51 responses received. Six focus groups were then held across Wales in Cardiff, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Cwmbran, Caerphilly, Wrexham and Gwynedd.
The research highlights the significant challenges faced by care-experienced young mothers:
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75% of women were pregnant when first referred into Project Unity.
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86% said they were subject to child protection proceedings during pregnancy or shortly after their baby was born.
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76% believed their own care experience influenced the decision for child protection proceedings to begin.
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One third of women in their second pregnancies reported feeling more empowered to speak up because of their involvement with Project Unity.
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100% of respondents said they would recommend Project Unity to another care-experienced young mother facing child protection proceedings.
The majority (86%) of children born to care-experienced young women were subject to child protection proceedings during or just after birth. A further 76% of women believed their care experience was the reason for this.
Many of those supported by Project Unity felt that referrals to children’s services had become routine for care-experienced mothers, suggesting a pattern of intergenerational care proceedings affecting young women as they enter motherhood.
“I have been in care since I was 12, and when I found out I was pregnant they told me because I am care-experienced my baby will go on the child protection register.”
“I was told it was because I had been in care and also my age, but other friends of my age have not been referred as they haven’t been in care.”
– Young women surveyed as part of HER Story research
The difference Project Unity makes
The report shows clear evidence of the difference Project Unity can make. When care-experienced mothers are referred into the service early in pregnancy, they are more likely to experience positive outcomes, including remaining together with their babies.
This was particularly evident among mothers who had been separated from their first child through adoption but were referred into Project Unity earlier in a second pregnancy, leading to reduced involvement from children’s services.
Around a third of referrals to Project Unity came from social services, demonstrating strong recognition of the service across Wales. Women reported significant improvements after receiving support:
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87% said their knowledge of rights and entitlements increased
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95% felt their voice was heard more after working with Project Unity
- 75% said their wellbeing had improved
Many also reported more positive engagement with social services, showing how advocacy can help build stronger relationships between mothers and professionals.
Sharon Lovell MBE, CEO for NYAS Cymru, said:
“HER Story is the voice of young care-experienced women. I am delighted to share this report during the week following International Women’s Day, and ensure that the messages within the report are shared with decision makers to implement systemic lasting change for women and their children. I wish to thank Welsh Government for funding this work and working with us to strengthen the rights of young women in Wales.”
