Care Leavers' Association

In 2010, the CLA will be running an event, which will give young people in care and care leavers (aged 15-25), from black and minority ethnic background, the chance to speak out about the care system and how it could be changed for the better.

Work on this project is well on the way and we now have a steering group of young people who are helping us to plan the event.

However, we would still love to hear the views of other young people. This is crucial to make sure that we get things right. We want to make sure this event is as good as it possibly can be.

We have designed a questionnaire so that you can tell us what you think about our plans so far. You can download the questionnaire here: BME Project Questionnaire.

You can return it to us by email or by FREEPOST to the following address:

Freepost RSCK-REJX-ZCUB
Care Leavers' Association
Express Networks
1 George Leigh Street
Manchester
M4 5DL

If you want to give us your views but prefer not to fill in the questionnaire, you can get in touch in any of the following ways:

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Telephone: 0161 236 1980

Post: at the address above

Research from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London has found that trauma experienced in childhood may have an impact on physical health in adult life.

The study followed a thousand individuals from birth to age 32. The findings suggest 'that childhood experiences can affect nervous, immune and endocrine functioning, which agrees with earlier findings in animal experiments.'

By age 32, 'adults who had been maltreated as children were twice as likely to suffer major depression and chronic inflammation. Children who grew up poor or socially isolated were twice as likely to show metabolic risk markers at age 32.'

You can read the full story here.

On Thursday 17th December 2009, Chris Simpson will be running a 'keep in touch' event for care leavers in Grantham.

It will be held from 7.30pm- 9pm at:

GMB Office
Ground Floor
Lindpet House
Market Place
Grantham
NG31 6LJ

You can find a map here.

'Keep in touch' events are open to all care leavers and are really informal. feel free to bring a friend along if you prefer.

If you want any more information, contact the office on 0161 236 1980 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Chris' work in the Grantham was recently covered in the Grantham Evening News. You can read the article here.

The Guardian reported today that care leavers are over-represented amongst children and youths nationwide.

The article also highlighted the fact that the current penal system is failing the young people who are in its custody.

The article discussed two separate reports, one from the Council of Europe's Committee on the Prevention of Torture and another by the Independent prisons inspectorate and the Youth Justice Board, which highlight problems with the current system.

Read the full article on The Guardian website.