Six young people in the care of Medway Council met with the Director of Children's Services and other senior managers in early December to look at how the free leisure pass is working, the support available for young people reaching the age of 18, health assessments, and personal education plans. This was the third meeting of the Medway Children in Care Council and progress is already being made to improve the situation for young people in care. Following the meeting with senior managers, the young people met with members of Medway Council's Corporate Parenting Group. Young people's involvement in the Children in Care Council is supported and facilitated by the Young Lives Foundation.

The value of our volunteers in the lives of young people in need was recognised at a special ceremony at the Ramada Hotel, Hollingbourne on 6 October. More than 70 people attended the ceremony to see awards presented to volunteers who act as appropriate adults, independent visitors and mentors. Superintendent Rachel Adams of Kent Police presented the appropriate adult awards. Rose Collinson, Medway Council's Director for Children's Services, presented the awards for independent visitors and mentors in Medway. And Ann Allen, chairman of Kent County Council's children's champions board, presented the awards for volunteer independent visitors supporting Kent's young people in care.

Young people from our Upfront support groups are helping Kent County Council launch the pledge to its children in care in a series of events taking place across the county during May. The pledge contains a number of commitments to improving the experience of being in care in Kent, including: providing a good education; creating a sense of belonging; building good memories for the future; and championing young people's needs and interests.

England rugby international James Haskell presented the Young Lives Foundation operations manager with a ceremonial key at the Lord's Taverners pre-season lunch on Monday 21 April to mark the handing over of a 17-seater minibus to be used for YLF's activities programme for young people in need.

Staff and young people from our Medway project took part in Medway's first Children in Care Council meeting on 15 April.

Young people from our rights, advocacy and support project in Kent spent a weekend away in early April planning a DVD on life in care.