Young people lead the way with useful guide on life in residential care
Young people living in residential care from across Ireland, have come together to develop a guide packed with useful advice and tips on how to get the most out of residential living.
The booklet, ‘Our Guide to Help You’, contains information that young people with residential care experience feel is important to know.
The project was independently facilitated to ensure it was young person led, with their voice being independent and central to the development process.
A group of 11 young people worked together to create the information booklet, which contains words of wisdom about living in residential care, written by those who live that experience.
Their message to newcomers to residential care is heartfelt.
“Right now, you might be feeling scared or worried about what to expect when you go into residential care. This is completely normal and something that everyone feels at first. You might be coming from a family home, a foster home or from another type of care altogether,” they write in the introduction to the booklet.
“It can be a bit hard to get used to at the start but no matter how hard you might find it at first, we want you to know that there will always be people there to look out for you and support you.”
They point out that others feel the same concerns that they do when first they enter residential care.
“Every one of your housemates is in the same position as you, so you don’t have to feel out of place. You might think it’s not a good thing to have in common, but this can make residential care a really supportive and positive place to be.”
