Groups

Voices From Care Cymru’s Advisory Group consists of care experienced young representatives from all parts of Wales.

We meet four times per year across Wales to discuss the future of our organisation and how we can better improve the lives of care experienced young people.

Young people can nominate themselves to become a young representative for their area. Applications are open to all care experienced young people aged between 12 and 21.

We provide the opportunity for children and young people to meet, grow, learn and develop long lasting friendships. We want all young people to be the best that they can be.

We welcome young people from all care experiences including kinship care, residential care, foster care, those with experience of adoption and unaccompanied children.

If you would like to get involved with the Advisory Group please contact Aiden on 02920 451431 or aiden@vfcc.org.uk

The Echo Forum, is a local participation group for 14-22 year olds who are, or have been looked after in Carmarthenshire. They meet once to twice a month in Llanelli or Ammanford, giving young people the chance to promote the rights of young people in Carmarthenshire and highlighting the opportunities there are for young people in the area. The forum is young person inspired, and young person led – meaning that young people decide where it takes place, what time and even what they have to eat at the meeting. If you would like to be involved in the forum, all you have to do is contact Seana on 02920 451431 or email seana.power@vfcc.org.ukThe RCT Forum, is a local participation group for 14-22 year olds who are, or have been looked after in Rhondda Cynon Taff. They meet once to twice a month in Pontypridd, giving young people the chance to promote the rights of young people in RCT and highlighting the opportunities there are for young people in the area. The forum is young person inspired, and young person led – meaning that young people decide where it takes place, what time and even what they have to eat at the meeting. If you would like to be involved in the forum, all you have to do is contact Seana on 02920 451431 or email seana.power@vfcc.org.ukVoices From Care Cymru is committed to providing care experienced young people from across Wales the opportunity to participate in our activities and have their voices heard.

We have established five regional participation groups to allow young people to influence national legislation, policy and guidance. Each group meets three times a year in the school holidays. Every meeting includes a fun activity, with time for the young people to socialise with each other.

The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, in partnership with Comic Relief and The Royal Commonwealth Society, has established The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme. This programme aims to:

  • Ensure young people are better qualified, have access to jobs and training, and create thriving businesses
  • Enable young people to articulate their needs in order to influence key decision makers
  • Provide evidence and stories describing how young people have succeeded in creating lasting change in their communities.

In partnership, NYAS and Voices from Care Cymru have been awarded a grant for four years to provide peer mentoring opportunities for young people to support other young people who are in the care system; to influence change and be part of decision making processes that will make their lives better.

The aim of this project is for young people to actively participate in policy making, legislation and campaigns on behalf of other young people. The project ensures that all young people in care have access to having a voice to influence and shape legislation that affects their lives.

CASCADE Voices is a collaboration between Voices From Care Cymru and CASCADE, Cardiff University. A group of care-experienced young people, from Voices From Care Cymru, advise on research projects from design to dissemination. The group has advised researchers from universities in Wales and Northern Ireland and the third sector, on health and social care topics. You can find out more about CASCADE Voices on the Cardiff University website:-

http://sites.cardiff.ac.uk/cascade/people/young-peoples-advisory-group/

If you want to know more or get involved then please contact Aiden at aiden@vfcc.org.uk or call 02920 451431

.