In this series we’re looking at what needs to change in the Care system, and how change can be made. We hear from young people who have been through the care system, those that work in it and policy makers – all of whom are trying to make change. 

" So, for me, the first-order problem here, the top priority for care has to be building lasting, loving relationships and making it the obsession of the system”

Josh MacAllister

How do we make change for all care experienced people in the UK? How do we effect change on a national scale? In our final episode of the series we speak to Barnardo’s policy team to find out what the team doing to influence the upcoming Independent Care Review.

 

Barnardo’s Rosie Fortune then hosts an exclusive interview with Josh MacAllister, the chair of the independent Care Review. They discuss: 

 

Barnardo’s Care Review recommendations 

Josh MacAllister appointed as chair of the Care Review 

Care Review website 

In this series we’re looking at what needs to change in the Care system, and how change can be made. We hear from young people who have been through the care system, those that work in it, and policymakers – all of whom are trying to make change. 

“Just being able to talk to someone and being able to hang out with someone, can have such a big effect, especially for someone who is care experienced because they may not have those connections” 

Em from project Acorn. 

 

In episode two we hear from a group of young people as they come up with a plan and put it into action. The group are on a mission to address loneliness and isolation amongst care experienced young people in Plymouth. 

They come up with the idea of a summer social group packed with fun activities. We follow the project from beginning to end, the ups and downs, and the outcomes. 

In this series we’re looking at what needs to change in the Care system, and how change can be made. We hear from young people who have been through the care system, those that work in it and policy makers – all of whom are trying to make change. 

 

“That initial ‘you’re going into care’ is the most isolated you’ll ever feel” Rhi, 25. 

 

Isolation and loneliness is something that affects us all, but how does it affect young people in care? What's it like to turn 18 and leave care? What’s it like living alone for the first time with limited support? 

In the first episode, we speak to a group of care-experienced young people in Plymouth about the challenges they face and what changes need to be made to the care system to make it better. 

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/crsp/our-research/young-adults-living-with-low-middle-income-parents/ 

The 6th and final episode in a series that follows Tony Simpson as he retraces his steps through the places and institutions he was born and raised in.

For more information about the project, and to learn more about Tony, please visit the Oral History Project website at www.barnardos.org.uk/oralhistory.

The 5th episode in a series that follows Tony Simpson as he retraces his steps through the places and institutions he was born and raised in.

For more information about the project, and to learn more about Tony, please visit the Oral History Project website at www.barnardos.org.uk/oralhistory.

As a charity committed to becoming anti-racist, we continue to learn from our past, including our mistakes. 

We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this podcast, for sharing their honest experiences. 

The conversations have sometimes highlighted examples where our practice several decades ago did not meet the standards we adhere to today. We are wholly committed to listening and learning from the lived experiences shared here in these podcasts. 

Please listen to this with an open heart and an open mind. 

-

Today we have another conversation between 2 generations.  

Valerie was born in 1962. Like Marine and Julienne and - who you heard in previous episodes - she also spent some of her time in care in the Barnardo’s girls village in Barkingside in East London. Now, she’s a well known author and public speaker, and her TED talk on bullying has over 360,000 views on Youtube. 

Stacy also spent time in the care system. She’s 19 in this conversation, making her 37 younger Valerie. She’s actually the younger sister of Irene, who you’ve also met in previous episodes.  

We hear Valerie share how she ended up in prison aged just 15, Stacy explains how she and her sister ‘reclaimed their blackness’, and together they talk about how their time in care has shaped them as people. 

The purpose of this type of conversation is to give 2 people, one older and one younger, the chance to compare and contrast a shared life experience - specifically, spending time in care as women of colour.

It gives each of them an opportunity to swap some of the wisdom and knowledge they’ve gained on their respective journey’s, and allows us the chance to learn something too.

Disclaimer: as we are making an effort to keep the voice of the guests authentic, this episode contains language that may be considered offensive to some listeners.

But this is a little bit different from the other ones. This time it is between a mother and daughter. 

Debbie works for Barnardo’s as a therapist and as a councillor.

She’s interviewing her mum - Louise, who was born in Grenada in 1938, and came to the UK as a young woman looking to build a career, get married and have a family. 

In the conversation, Louise describes the 16 day boat journey she took to the UK, she recounts some terrifying experiences she had with Teddy Boys, and they both reminisce over their big family get togethers.  

They also talk about their family’s unique experience of being a minority group within Grenada. You see, while Louise was born in Grenada, her family was originally from India, and were brought to the Caribbean by the British as indentured servants. This leads to an interesting discussion about their family heritage, religion and cultural identity. 

The Oral History Project episode today is a conversation between Winston and Tyjae, both men of colour who have spent time in the care system.  

Winston was placed in care with Barnardo’s at the age of three, after his father, a soldier who had been stationed in the UK during WW2, returned to the US. He grew up in foster care and spent his teenage years in William Baker Technical School, known as Goldings, a residential school run by Barnardo's in Hertfordshire. The school is known, among many things, for providing all the Wimbledon ball boys between 1946 to 1966. Winston was one of them. 

He’s talking to Tyjae, a young man from London, who attends our Youthbuild Academy in Lewisham. He, too, spent time in care in his early years.

In this conversation, they each share their experiences of racism, Winston explains his involvement in his local Black Lives Matter protests and the hope he feels seeing young people’s interest in politics and social justice, and Tyjae, who is an aspiring musician, gets to play Winston some of his music. 

The purpose of this type of conversation is to give 2 people, one older and one younger, the chance to compare and contrast a shared life experience.

They get to swap some of the wisdom and knowledge they’ve gained on their respective journey’s, and we get to learn something too.

Disclaimer: In an effort to keep the authentic voice of the guests, this episode contains language that may be considered offensive to some listeners.

So far, the Oral History Project episodes shared this month have all been conversations between two people from different generations, brought together to discuss a shared experience.

In this episode of our Oral History Project, we interview our colleague Chris, who works in our very own Fundraising department, and who tells us about his experiences growing up with Caribbean heritage in East London in the 1970’s and 80’s.

He reflects on how his own cultural identity has changed over the years, talks about Black history still not being part of the UK curriculum and explains the importance of having conversations about culture, race and heritage.

Like Marine, who you heard in the last episode, Julienne also grew up in the Barnardo's girls village in East London. 

Julienne is in conversation with Irene, a young woman who has also spent time in care. You met Irene in the last episode, she was the young woman talking to Marine. 

Among the many things they talk about, they share their thoughts on the term ‘mixed race’, Julienne explains why she always supports the Indians in Cowboy and Indian films, and she reveals how she tracked down her father, who just happened to be living on the very same road as her best friend. 

The purpose of this type of conversation is to give 2 people, one older and one younger, the chance to compare and contrast a shared life experience.

They get to swap some of the wisdom and knowledge they’ve gained on their respective journey’s, and we get to learn something too.