Newcastle City Council

Home / Care and Wellbeing / Fostering, adopting and looked after children / Voices for choices

We want more looked after children to get involved in the work we do and help us to give more people a voice and make astounding changes!

Voices for choices are a group of looked after children and members of the Children in Care Council for Newcastle upon Tyne. They help us understand the views of children and young people who are in care.

Are you:

• living with a foster family,
• getting support from a community foster carer,
• receiving short break foster care,
• living in a residential children’s home,
• cared for through the supported lodgings scheme?

If the answer is YES, then Voices for choices is for you!

Things we do

• We speak up for looked after children.
• We work hard to help improve the future for looked after children.
• We use our experiences to help Newcastle City Council make important decisions and changes to services.

 Voices for choices gets involved in some really exciting work, so far we have:

• organised events and parties
• helped to make positive changes to the fostering service
• made films and DVDs
• been involved in the interviews of council staff
• worked with National Voices, the group of charities that works together to strengthen the voice of many different people across the UK, including looked after children.
• worked with councillors and MPs
• advised the government about future regulations and policies

So come on, join us!

Call or text 07787 691 236 or drop us an email voices.choices@newcastle.gov.uk 

If it helps, you can ask your foster carer or social worker to do it for you.

Other people you can talk to... 

Youthlinx for ideas and information about places to go, things to do, volunteering opportunities, support and advice in Newcastle check out www.newcastleyouthlinx.co.uk

The Children’s Rights Team work with children and young people of all ages. They celebrate the rights of all children and young people in Newcastle and support them to create change.

If you would like to know more about their work you can email the team at childrensrights@newcastle.gov.uk or go to their Facebook page.

Complaints and Customer Relations Team The team is available to listen to any comments, complaints or suggestions you may have about the service you receive from Children’s Services. You can contact the team by:

National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) if you need to talk to someone or if you want some advice, then NYAS can help. Your feelings and wishes are important and the team will listen to your thoughts or ideas. They will speak for you, on your behalf if needed too. You can contact NYAS by phone on 0800 616 1101 or email help@nyas.net  To find out more about NYAS visit their website.

Page last updated: 2 February, 2012