New website for children in care goes live

Central Bedfordshire’s Children in Care Council (CiCC) launched the site not only as a source of information, but also to allow young people in care to communicate with other looked-after children.

The CiCC is made up of children and young people who are, or have been, in the care of Central Bedfordshire Council. Its members work with Central Beds’ Corporate Parenting Panel to improve services for looked-after children in the area.

Its members said: “We wanted a website which was easy to use and had the information about being in care or a care leaver. The information is written by care experienced young people and we hope that it will help other young people.

“The other reason why we felt it was really important to have our own website was that it will be a way in which we can communicate with other looked-after children and care leavers, especially those Central Bedfordshire young people who are not living in the local area.

“As the site develops we will use it for online consultations and also our virtual CiCC meetings.”

The advice for looked-after children includes everything from how their social worker should work with them and staying safe to information about health and education.

There is separate health information for care leavers, as well as advice about post-16 education, training, employment and who they are able to contact about any issues or problems they may have.

And a virtual Children in Care Council section allows members to log in and be part of a council meeting as well as consultations.

Executive Member for Social Care and Housing Councillor Carole Hegley said: “The work which members of the Children in Care Council do for looked-after children and care leavers in the area cannot be underestimated.

“Their dedicated and innovative approaches help to ensure that other young people in the same situation have a chance of getting the best possible start in life.

“That is why I am delighted that this website has come to fruition, because it offers simple, user-friendly advice to looked-after children and care leavers, written by their peers, as well as links to other support agencies.”

For more, go to www.cbccicc.org.uk