The council has signed a pledge to ensure that children and young people in our care have their belongings treated with dignity, care and respect whenever they move home. 

The ‘My Things Matter’ campaign, created by leading children’s rights charity NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service), outlines five promises, when moving children and young people in care, so they don’t have their belongings moved in bin bags.

1. We will help you to keep your most precious belongings with you safely during your move and promise they will not be moved in bin bags.
2. We will provide written guidance for you and anyone helping you to move, which we will publish on our website.
3. We will never move or throw away your belongings without your consent and will always respect your personal property.
4. We will support you to make a complaint if any of your belongings have been lost or damaged during your move.
5. We will communicate with you about your move and ask you how the move went.

NYAS reveals in their campaign report that

• 4 in 5 children and young people in care will have their belongings moved in bin bags.
• 3 in 5 children and young people in care will have their belongings lost or damaged when moving.

Every 20 minutes, a child in care moves home in England or Wales, equating to over 26,000 children in England and 2,200 children in Wales. NYAS receives 10,000 referrals a year to advocate for care-experienced children and young people, and the charity has found that moving when in care can cause serious problems for many who make contact with them.

Cabinet member for children’s services, Cllr Sarah Hall, said: “Moving from one home to another can be a difficult time for children in care, and it’s vital that we do everything we can to help ensure the transition is as smooth as possible. I’m delighted we have signed up to the ‘My Things Matter’ pledge as part of our efforts to make the moving experience as good as it can be for our children and young people.”

Find out more about the campaign and read the full report here.

Notes for editors:

NYAS (the National Youth Advocacy Service) is a leading rights-based charity providing high quality advocacy and legal representation for children and young people who might be in care, subject to child protection plans or have mental health issues, across England and Wales. 

We listen to what children and young people want, care about what they say and do everything we can to empower them to have a voice and be heard when important decisions are being made which affect their future. We influence and campaign to bring about positive changes and ensure children’ and young people’s rights are upheld.

For more information nyas.net.