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The CLA is a user led charity run by care leavers for care leavers. Our current Strategic Direction paper outlines our vision, mission and strategic aims. Strategic Position 2011
The Care Leavers Association – “an ever growing network of care leavers”
Vision
A good life in care and a good life after care
Mission
To bring together the voices of care leavers of all ages so that we improve the current care system, improve the quality of life of care leavers throughout their life and change for the better society’s perception of people who have been in care
To achieve this we have 5 strategic aims:
The CLA will be a user led organisation ensuring that all care leavers have the space and mechanism to input their experiences into achieving the vision
We will
- Establish networks of care leavers around the UK
- Connect care leavers to each other through our web sites
- Establish effective user involvement mechanisms
- Create mechanisms for care leavers to support each other
- Ensure all care leavers of all ages have the opportunity to join the CLA
- Ensure membership packages are relevant
The CLA will continue to be a leading authority on leaving care issues
We will
- Ensure that we use our strength as a national care leaver organisation to shape care and leaving care policy in England and Wales
- Ensure that our policy positions inform and reflect the diversity and complexity of our members’ views within the care/leaving care sector
- Build upon our role as a valued partner to key stakeholders, and as a critical friend to government
- Promote, conduct and publish research to raise awareness of care leaver issues
- Develop fruitful partnerships with different agencies to achieve positive results
The CLA will ensure that care leavers have access to the best quality support in the wider world
We will
- Ensure that local authorities and voluntary organisations provide better access to records for care leavers
- Inform care leavers about their rights
- Provide a signposting service for information and guidance
- Produce resources and guides on issues affecting care leavers
- Offer training and support to organisations working with care leavers
- Work with young people to support the transition to adulthood
- Campaign for an apology from government for historical abuse and general lack of positive care experienced in the care system over the last 80 years?
- Raise awareness of the concept of “identity” and its effects on those who have been in the care system, promoting a sense of “wholeness” and increasing emotional wellbeing
The CLA will highlight discrimination where it occurs and challenge negative stereotypes
We will
- Create a range of media opportunities for care leavers to showcase
- Support other organisations to change their attitudes towards care leavers
- Develop ways to increase the opportunities for care leavers to engage with education, employment and training
- Raise awareness of the unequal proportion of care leavers in the Criminal Justice System and develop initiatives to break the cycle of offending
The CLA will build upon its current financial position, governance and organisational systems to improve stability and sustainability and ensure strength and vitality
We will
- Ensure we have robust and risk intelligent systems to maximise good management of our resources and use robust planning and forecasting processes
- Ensure we are able to identify and secure diverse funding opportunities in line with our corporate objectives
- Ensure effective and transparent governance, investing in the continuous development of our trustees
- Ensure we have robust monitoring and evaluation systems that show our impact on care leavers
- Ensure that we aspire to excellence in all aspects of our role as an employer, promote the value of equality and diversity across all aspects of our business and operate in a legal and safe manner
- Ensure we develop an integrated and intelligent marketing strategy and use technology to create excellent systems of communication for our members, staff and stakeholders
We seek to address these issues through campaigning, advocating, training, supporting and promoting the following policy statements:
Leaving Care Policy
Adult Care Leavers Policy
Abuse In Care Policy
Education and Training Policy
Access to Records Policy
Criminal Justice Policy (need to write)
Identity Policy (need to write)
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