Join our Care Council and Care Council Juniors!
The Surrey Care Council is made up of care-experienced children and young people aged 13 to 17 years old. We also have a Care Council Juniors group for young people aged between 7 to 12 years old, and they also meet monthly. If you are 18 and over, find out more about the Care Leavers' Forum.
To sign up or if you would like more information, send us an email to user.voice@surreycc.gov.uk, and someone from the team will be in touch.
- What is Care Council?
- What is Care Council Juniors?
- Why should you come to our groups?
- What do our young people think about the groups?
What is Care Council?
Care Council is a session for care-experienced children and young people aged between 13 and 17. The group is a great place for young people to share their wishes and feelings on the care system, and help us to make positive changes, Care Council is also a great way to make some new friends and access support.
Being a part of Care Council means young people:
- can get involved in the Surrey Youth Voice Recruit Crew scheme, meaning they will be able to sit on interview panels for new Surrey staff,
- can take issues to the Corporate Parenting Board (a group of senior managers who have the power to change things),
- be trained to help us deliver Our Shoes - Respect training, which is a two day training course teaching frontline workers what it is like to be a looked after child or care leaver,
- and lastly, help us to make a real, positive difference to the care system.
From September 2024, our Care Council sessions will be taking place every third Thursday of the month between 6pm and 8pm.
Venue details will be sent to carers and/or young people once they confirm their attendance. Dates and times maybe subject to change. For more information and to get involved, please email user.voice@surreycc.gov.uk.
What is Care Council Juniors?
Care Council Juniors is a group for looked after children aged 7 to 12. The group gives young people the chance to take part in themed activities and learn new skills. Care Council Juniors is a great opportunity for young people to have their say about the issues that matter to them, make services better. Our members also have the chance to make new friends and have their voices heard.
Activities we have completed with our Juniors include:
- A day trip to KidZania in London,
- Activities with Surrey Fire and Rescue, as well as Surrey Police to meet some of the forces police dogs,
- Cooking workshops where the young people made their own homemade pizzas.
From September 2024, our Care Council Juniors sessions will be taking place on the second Saturday of every month between 11.30am and 1.30pm.
Venue details will be sent to carers and/or young people once they confirm their attendance. Dates and times maybe subject to change. For more information and to get involved, please email user.voice@surreycc.gov.uk.
Why should you come to the groups?
At Care Council and Care Council Juniors, young people who attend will have the chance to:
- talk about things that are important to children and young people in care,
- raise action cards (something they want to stop or change about being looked after) which are taken to Corporate Parenting Board to be actioned and responded to,
- meet other young people in care who might have been in a similar position to them and make new friends,
- and also go on fun trips with the group, such as Thorpe Park, Go Karting, as well as a summer residential outing to the Calshot Activity Centre.
What do our young people think about the groups?
Below is what young people have said about coming to our sessions:
- "I love Care Council Juniors, I wish it happened everyday".
- "I really enjoyed the session as always. I really like the staff".
- "Care Council was good as always, and I want everyone to know they are not alone".
- "This has been a really good session and I enjoyed it a lot. The highlight was when I was able to share my opinion and stick to it".