Heard and Not Seen - The Barnardo's Podcast Heard and Not Seen

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: 


What the Care Review hopes to achieve this Spring. 
Why loving relationships need to be the “obsession” of the care system 
How young people’s voices are being amplified in the review

 

Links: 




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.

Our Oral History Project is a platform for people to talk honestly and openly about their experiences of race and racism throughout their lives, including while in our care.




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.