We must pledge to change our approach to looked-after children

Children in the care system are some of the most at risk in our society. As the scandals of recent years have shown, when issues arise in this system the voices of looked after children are often lost or silenced. One problem that is clear time and again is that children from troubled backgrounds are often treated as a problem to be solved rather than a person to be nurtured. A recent report ‘Lives transformed, potential fulfilled’ detailed the impact that this has: children who have been in care make up 25% of the homeless and 24% of the prison population, and just 13% of care leavers progress to higher education by the age of 19. Mental hea...

Tackling exploitation with mentoring: Serenity Welfare’s Emily Aklan to speak at The Children in Care Conference 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic has proven a significant test to the resilience of children’s social care services in the UK. An already overburdened industry has had to take on the challenge of assisting children and young people in care who are facing long periods of heightened stress and isolation, meaning that the right support is more critical than ever before. Throughout the crisis, the government has recognised that working together with care sector bodies and ensuring an individualised approach are vital to ensuring that children in care can maximise their potential. The Children in Care Conference 2021, which will take place on February 11, is the latest edi...

?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...

THE PANDEMIC IS GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR GANGS WHO PREY ON VULNERABLE CHILDREN

While all of us have felt the impact of Covid -19, for children in care it has compounded the circumstances which make them most vulnerable. Like the rest of the country, looked-after children have faced increased isolation and disorder as a result of isolating restrictions. The mental toll of lockdowns cannot be understated, with many reports showing increasing rates of poor mental health. For children in care however, this loss is especially acute. Having often already faced a significant amount of trauma and disruption in their lives, looked-after young people have a heavier reliance on the structures and routine of school and extracurricular activities....

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....

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....