If you’re a young person and want to find out more about the In Care Councils, please scroll down to complete our quick form, and we will get back to you soon.
Read on to find out more about each of the Councils.
MORE ABOUT THE IN CARE COUNCILS
The In Care Councils are for young people who are in care in Bath and North East Somerset (BANES). The Care Experienced Council is for young adults in BANES who have been in care in the past. The Care Councils are all supported by Off The Record to improve services for young people in care, by sharing their views and experiences. We have a lot of fun together making friends with people who get what it’s like.
There are three different Care Councils:
Junior In Care Council (JICC) for 5-11 year-olds who are in care
Senior In Care Council (SICC) for 12-17 year-olds, up until their 18th birthday, who are in care
Care Experienced Council (CEC) for 18-25 year-olds, up until their 26th birthday, who have been in care
Being part of our Care Councils is completely free. We provide food at each session, and can cover travel expenses if needed.
JUNIOR IN CARE COUNCIL
The Junior In Care Council (JICC) is for 5-11 year-olds who are in care. We meet during the school holidays, and on some weekday evenings in term-time..
What we do:
Have a group agreement to ensure everyone feels safe.
Make friends with other children who are in care
Do healthy activities like trampolining, football & circus skills
Go on trips to places like Bath city farm
Express our feelings and thoughts through creative activities like painting, planting, and games
Eat lots of tasty food together!
Have themed parties such as at Christmas
Share our views on how to support children in care
Have support from Young Ambassadors who each have lived experience of being in care.
SENIOR IN CARE COUNCIL
The Senior In Care Council (SICC) is for 12-17 year-olds, up until their 18th birthday, who are in care. We meet on the first Wednesday of the month.
What we do:
Have fun, and chill together. ‘I like being with people who get me’.
Reflect on our experiences of the care system, to improve it. For example, we helped to make this podcast on ‘the Pledge’
Express our feelings and thoughts through creative activities, such as making this video about what it’s like to be a young person in foster care >>>>>
Interview people for jobs in BANES Council and at Off The Record, to make sure that young people’s opinions are heard
Eat lots of lovely food together
Develop our skills and confidence
CARE EXPERIENCED COUNCIL
Care Experienced Council (CEC) is for 18-25 year-olds (up until their 26th birthday) who have been in care under BANES Council.
If you’re not sure if this is you, click on ‘Who is care-experienced’ here , and/or contact us to discuss your circumstances.
We meet on the third Wednesday of every month.
What we do:
Have fun, chill together, and make friends. ‘It’s good to be part of these things and meet other people who’ve been in care’
Reflect on our experiences of the care system, to improve it. For example we’ve given our views to people leading on the independent care review; Ofsted and the senior leadership team in social care. We’ve also travelled to Parliament in London with other care-experienced young people from across the UK to tell politicians how the care system could be improved.
Go on trips to places like Jamie’s Farm. ‘This is the best day I’ve had since lockdown’
Interview people for jobs in BANES Council and at Off The Record, to make sure that young people’s views are heard
Run training for staff at BANES Council on how to work with young people in care
Create videos and podcasts, and speak at events, to give people an insight into what it’s like being in care
Develop our skills and confidence
CARE COUNCILS ENQUIRY FORM
Please complete this form to find out more about our Participation services, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
This is not the referral form for counselling or listening support. Please click here to access that form.
You can also email participation@offtherecord-banes.co.uk or call us on 01225 312 481 to find out more.
