Redbridge Council sign ‘My Things Matter’ pledge for children in care

Redbridge Council has signed a pledge to ensure that care-experienced children and young people in their care have their belongings treated with dignity, care and respect whenever they move home. 

The ‘My Things Matter’ campaign, created by leading children’s rights charity NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service), is calling for all local authorities across England and Wales to sign up to a pledge outlining five promises, when moving children and young people in care, so they don’t have their belongings moved in bin bags.

Redbridge Corporate Director of People, Adrian Loades, said:

"I am proud that Redbridge has signed this pledge. A key component of our corporate parenting responsibility is that we should always give our young people the utmost respect, for both themselves and their belongings.

"This pledge helps us to ensure that we support with sensitivity and understanding any young person undergoing a placement move whilst in care.”

NYAS reveals in their campaign report that

• 4 in 5 children and young people in care will have their belongings moved in bin bags.
• 3 in 5 children and young people in care will have their belongings lost or damaged when moving.

The report research also found, from an FOI request, that only 1 in 3 Local Authorities have formal written guidance to support staff when moving children and young people in care.

The campaign report asks local authorities to commit to supporting the five pledges below:

1. We will help you to keep your most precious belongings with you safely during your move and promise they will not be moved in bin bags.
2. We will provide written guidance for you and anyone helping you to move, which we will publish on our website.
3. We will never move or throw away your belongings without your consent and will always respect your personal property.
4. We will support you to make a complaint if any of your belongings have been lost or damaged during your move.
5. We will communicate with you about your move and ask you how the move went.

Rita Waters, NYAS Group CEO said:

“All too often for children in care, they have a negative experience when moving from one home to another; it’s not good enough and needs to change. That is why the NYAS ‘My Things Matter’ campaign is asking local authorities to help make the moving experience as good as it can be for children and young people.”