Children's rights campaigner aklan calls for change of narrative around looked after children

Writing for CareTalk, emily aklan, founder of Serenity Welfare and the children’s rights campaigner behind the Hope Instead of Handcuffs initiative, calls for a change of attitude around vulnerable young people and urges government to help dispel the myth that such youngsters are responsible for their own troubles and invest in the services they require. In my many years of working with vulnerable young people, one thing which never fails to shock me is the negative attitudes targeted towards children in care. The archaic view of looked after children as “little thugs”, responsible for their problems, is more widespread than we might like to admit....

CALL FOR MORE YOUTH WORKERS TO TACKLE EMERGING GANGS THREAT

  CALL FOR MORE YOUTH WORKERS TO TACKLE EMERGING GANGS THREAT Fiona SimpsonTuesday, April 27, 2021 The pandemic has changed the methods criminal gangs use to exploit children. Experts say the shift is exposing young people from rural and affluent areas to greater risks, who will need the support of 10,000 more youth workers. Gangs use social media to groom and recruit children in their criminal operations. Picture: Brian/Adobe Stock Gangs exploiting vulnerable children to carry out criminal activity have adapted their approach during the Covid-19 pandemic creating new risks for young people, campaigners warn. Despite three national lockdow...

emily aklan: I quit a high-flying job in construction to help society’s most vulnerable children

emily has enjoyed a successful real estate career, and was only 31 when she started running her company. But her life took a different direction when her sister passed away and her ex-husband took their children and left the country. After a long legal battle, she managed to earn custody of her sister’s children. There began a new horizon for her, linking even more with support for children in need. In a way, she has revolutionised the child care system. In this interview, she reveals that she transports children in comfortable “Mercedes” and not in caged vehicles, or children with handcuffs. In her goals for 2021, she says that will improve her company’...

Best Businesswomen Awards 2021

Best Businesswomen Awards 2021 The Best Businesswomen Awards have announced their winners for 2021 at a Gala Final held at the Hilton Wembley.    Our CEO emily aklan has won the Best Businesswomen Gold Award for Children and Families category in this prestigious competition which seeks to find the very best female business talent from across the UK and Internationally.   Despite a global pandemic, the sheer resilience of female entrepreneurs shone through. All winners, selected by a panel of business experts, demonstrated a flair for entrepreneurship, tenacity, and determination.    The Best Businesswomen Awards are designed to recognise the achieve...

The mental scars left behind when we handcuff children

During Children's Mental Health Week, emily aklan says the unnecessary an unregulated physical restraining of children is a shocking practice that must be addressed...   Professional Social Work magazine, 4 February, 2021 Many of us have struggled over the last year, but for most, these struggles will ease once life returns to some sense of normality. Sadly, for many vulnerable children and young people in care, the results of the challenges they are facing will continue to have a profound impact on their mental health long after the pandemic is over. One of the most shocking challenges they endure is the mental effects of being physically restrained. Phys...

?Finalist for the Stars of Children & Young People Awards ?

We are incredibly proud to share that our CEO, emily aklan, has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Stars of Children & Young People Awards ? emily has been recognised in the Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Services Award, reflecting her unwavering commitment to supporting, empowering and inspiring young people. This recognition reflects the impact of the work being delivered every day—supporting young people to feel heard, valued and equipped to move forward with confidence. At Serenity Welfare, we deliver bespoke, holistic support for children and young people, creating safe and nurturing environments where they feel valued, supported, an...