LGA publishes new good practice guidance
Delegates at the LGA’s annual conference gave a standing ovation to Olympic medallist Fatima Whitbread MBE.
The retired javelin thrower, who broke the world record in 1986 and is a European and World Champion, grew up in care, and her conference session focused on how to support children and young people with care experience.
People in the audience were moved to tears as she described being abandoned as a baby in a flat and “left to die”: she was rescued after a neighbour reported her crying, and spent months in hospital recovering.
She was taken into care by her local authority and lived for 14 years in children’s homes, with dozens of children living in each one.
Fatima spoke of looking out of the window and, whenever a car pulled up, asking: “Is that my mummy coming to get me?”
She explained to delegates that one care worker, ‘Aunty Rae’, taught her what love was and was “the mother I always wanted”.
Aunty Rae inspired Fatima’s new picture book, My Bright Shining Star, which aims to share with children and families the importance of kindness and having “one bright shining star” on your side.
Fatima’s life changed when she met a sports coach, Margaret Whitbread, at age 13. After learning she was in a children’s home, Margaret gave Fatima her own boots and javelin and coached her, later introducing Fatima to her husband and sons, and taking her into their care.
Throughout Fatima’s story, the message was clear about the importance of strong relationships and having people to advocate for and believe in you – a vital reminder for councillors and officers who are all ‘corporate parents’ to children in care and care leavers.
In response to a question, about how councils can best support children in care and care leavers, Fatima was passionate about the need to centre the voices of children themselves – by asking them what they want and need, and listening to it.
Last month, local government marked National Care Leavers’ Week and, as part of the LGA’s Step Ahead campaign, we published : ‘Listening
and engaging with care experienced individuals: a good practice guide’.
This was in response to feedback about poor experiences, such as people with care experience being asked to share their traumas with groups of people, or being the only people on conference panels who weren’t paid to be there.
The guide was produced by the children’s charity Coram, with the involvement of care experienced young people, and has lots of learning for anyone working with experts by experience.
- Find out more about the LGA’s Step Ahead campaign. Learn about Fatima’s UK campaign to improve the UK care system.