Someone for care leavers to talk to

Children in Care Council

Children in Care Council meet every month to talk about what it's like being in care and how things could be better.

If you are a young person that is looked after or has been looked after, you are automatically a member of the CICC (Children in Care Council) and you can take part in discussions and issues raised.

We bring our ideas and suggestions to our meetings and work with the adults within the council to improve things and feedback.

Our meetings are supported by an Investing In Children Project Worker but are run by young people for children and young people - creating a safe space for voices to be heard.

We will pay you a fee of £7.50 for taking part in the meeting plus up to £3.00 if you have to use public transport to attend.

How to contact the Children in Care Council

See Children in Care Council - our meetings for more information or speak to your social worker or your YPA and ask them to contact us.

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice can help with everything from money issues to problems with benefits, housing or work.

Citizen's Advice County Durham provides free, confidential and independent advice to help people overcome their problems.

They help with everything from money issues to problems with benefits, housing or employment.

Sometimes you might have more than one problem, and often they are linked. They can tackle issues in the round making sure you get all of the support you need.

Counselling

As a care leaver you can access a range of support services, delivered by Health Assured, to help you deal with any problems which could be affecting your general health and wellbeing.

You can get support online, via an app or over the telephone.

Contact your YPA who will give you the login details needed to access the service.

Support is available 24-7 including:

life support such as moving home, family issues, managing your money and much more
legal information such as debt advice
help with bereavement and grief
medical information, they can't diagnose but can offer a sympathetic ear and practical information and advice
self-help tools including fact sheets, advice videos

Emotional Wellbeing Worker

We can provide support with managing your emotions and feelings, like anxiety, low mood or if you're feeling lonely and isolated.

There are lots of different ways we can work with you, including:

Group sessions with other young people
One to one work
Discussions with your Young Persons Advisor (YPA) about how to support you
Directing you to other services that may be able to help, including community groups.

If you would like to be put in touch with an emotional wellbeing worker then please email CareLeavers@durham.gov.uk or with your YPA.

National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS)

If you want advice, or just want someone to listen to you, contact NYAS.

The National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) can help you if you are:

not being listened to
need advice
need help to talk the council, your social worker, or personal advisor
not being treated fairly
having difficulties with college
not happy with the contact you have with your family
homeless

What NYAS can do to help

Meet in a safe place

When you contact NYAS they will organise for a member of their team to meet you. You can choose where you want to meet - somewhere you feel comfortable or safe.

Fix your problem

You will be able to talk about your problem, and discuss how to fix it. The person you speak to at NYAS will be your advocate. This means that they will act on your behalf, such as making phone calls for you, come to meetings with you, or write emails or letters with you.

Your advocate can complain for you - but you will be in charge, until the problem is solved. You can ask to change your advocate, or you might decide that you no longer need their help - that is fine.

If you want more help from NYAS, you can contact them again, and if you want - ask for help from the same member of the team (advocate).

How to contact NYAS

It's up to you how you contact NYAS. See our website - National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) - Get in touch for our contact details. Or speak to your social worker or your YPA and ask them to contact us.

Peer Mentors

Peer mentors are adults who have been in care, who now volunteer to support young people as they get ready to leave care and become care leavers.

If you ask us for a peer mentor, we try to match you up with someone you have something in common with, maybe a shared hobby or being from the same area.

You can chat to your peer mentor about living in your own home, joining local groups or clubs, meeting people where you live and keeping up your friendships with people you know and other care leavers.

We will also pay for you and your peer mentor to go and take part in activities together in your local community.

If you're interested in being matched up with a peer mentor then drop us an email at careleavers@durham.gov.uk.

If you're a care experienced adult and would be interested in becoming a care leaver visit our Peer Mentors - using your care experience to help young people page.

The Full Circle

Do you want help to cope with how you feel, or want someone to talk to, when a lot is changing around you?

The Full Circle, specialist therapeutic service for children and young people team can arrange sessions with you to talk through what's going on, and how you are feeling. Together, you can work on what you want from the sessions, and put a plan in place to get this.

If people around you, such as your social worker or supported lodging provider need support to help you, this group can put this support in place.

Whatever you talk about will be confidential between yourself and the person you speak with at The Full Circle.