About Us

The Young Lives Foundation is committed to ensuring that young people's voices are heard in the decisions that affect their lives in care.

For individual young people, we achieve this through the advocacy support we provide.

For young people collectively, this is achieved principally through our work in developing and supporting the Children in Care Councils in both Kent and Medway.

Children in Care Councils were an initiative introduced by the Care Matters programme. Every children's services authority is expected to have a Children in Care Council (CICC) made up of young people in and leaving its care. The CICC is intended to have direct links to the Director of Children’s Services and the Lead Member and to be a forum for the young people in which the young people can express express their views and influence the services and support they receive.

Kent Children in Care Council

We are commissioned by Kent County Council to facilitate and support young people's involvement in the Kent CICC.

Twelve young people were elected as CICC members in Spring 2010, and YLF staff work with the young people in taking forward the issues that have been raised.

Two apprentice posts are attached to the CICC and the apprentices are employed by the Young Lives Foundation and work alongside us at our offices in  Maidstone.

Medway Children in Care Council

We are commissioned by Medway Children's Services to support and facilitate young people's involvement in the Medway CICC, and work with the young people in taking forward identified issues.

To learn more about the activities of the CICCs in Kent and Medway, click on Case Studies in the navigation panel