Young people in care from Cornwall have created a new poster aimed at helping their peers and teachers understand what it’s like to be in the care system.
The posters are now being sent out to schools across our communities to be used as teaching aids and conversation starters.
The idea came about after young people from charity Carefree Cornwall told Cornwall’s Corporate Parenting Board about their experiences of being a child in care in education.
They said they felt there was a lack of understanding and awareness among both school staff and students of what being in foster care means.
Cornwall Council’s Awena Virtual School, which supports the education of children in care, then provided funding alongside the Council’s Headstart Kernow team to run a project to raise awareness about this.
They ran a 10-week session in the Spring term to create a poster aimed at celebrating diversity and reminding people that care experience is now a ‘protected characteristic’ in Cornwall, similar to the nine characteristics protected under the Equality Act 2010.
The group was made up of young people aged 12 to 16 who worked alongside local screen print artist Dena O’Brien to create the poster.
In a message sent to schools with the posters, the children who created them write:
“We have created these posters to share the importance of inclusion throughout the care experienced community and beyond.
“In Cornwall, being care-experienced is recognised by the Council as if it were the 10th protected characteristic, protecting us from discrimination and harassment, in the same way that people of a different race or with a disability are protected.
“This has been a topic of conversation amongst care-experienced young people, as we have noticed that this is not recognised by all education establishments, despite it being adopted by numerous organisations as well as the local authority. We would like to help bridge the knowledge gap.
“This poster represents us. No matter where you come from, we all deserve to be accepted.”
Cllr Hilary Frank, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families at Cornwall Council, said:
“The young people behind these posters have drawn on their own experiences to help build understanding of what it means to grow up in care. That's a powerful way of creating positive change.
“Schools and colleges are at their best when every child feels understood, included and valued. These posters will help build a better understanding of the experiences of children in care and the additional challenges they can face.
“I hope they soon have pride of place in classrooms, noticeboards, and staff rooms across our communities.”
Mari Eggins, CEO of Carefree Cornwall, said:
“We are immensely proud that the voices of young people in care have been heard and that nurseries, schools and colleges will be displaying their posters.
“Carefree began 21 years ago partly because young people in care were saying that they sometimes felt discriminated against in school. This campaign brings our work full circle, helping to make education a place of belonging and inclusion for all children, including those in care.”