Young Voices Influencing Care - Hopes and Fears

In 2021, care experienced children and young people in Hull participated in the Coram Voice Bright Spots survey, which gave them the opportunity to express their feelings and highlight the things that mattered most to them. One significant finding from the survey revealed concerns about society's negative perceptions of young people raised in foster homes or children's homes.

In response, Young Voices Influencing Care in collaboration with My Pockets, developed a series of artworks to share the message that - “we are just young people like other young people and we have some of the same hopes and fears that other young people have.”

Working as a group - “we started with fears, you know spiders and snakes and then began to think about what we wanted to share anonymously with the world about us, moving on to what we wanted to share about our hopes and aspirations and challenge people to consider we are really just young people wanting to live regular lives without the stigma that is associated with being in care."

Their message is clear - “consider our hopes and fears and support us with both.”

The artwork they created below is now displayed in prominent council buildings in the city.

Artwork of two red snakes on a light grey background with red text 'They might bite me so it's best to just let them be'Artwork of some yellow stairs on a light grey background with black text 'Sat on the stairs it is quiet and peaceful'Artwork of 4 white cats on a teal background with white text 'My sister had a cat ages ago. And now I want one.'Artwork of a green ear on a light grey background with green text 'It's really important to hear compliments. I need people to tell me when I'm doing good.'Artwork of a red spider on a yellow background with red text 'It was massive. I tried to get it out or my room with a coat hanger. But if fell under my bed and I had to sleep there.'Artwork of a light pink house on a pink background with dark red text 'Live with mum again'Artwork of a white helicopter on a teal background with the text 'Ever since they helped my mum I've wanted to get a job as an air advanced paramedic technician.'Artwork of a group of hands on top of each other on a yellow background with the text 'I don't want to be alone'Red text on a green background 'People who care. People who don't shout. People who are calm. People who are caring. A family. A forever home. Or a home I can stay for quite a long time. Where nothing changes. I'd be happy and grateful for that.'Artwork of a white alarm, tractor, storm cloud, lorry, fireworks, a person shouting, and a slamming door on a orange background with the white text 'Tractor thunder fireworks alarms lorries motoebikes door slam shouting.'Black question mark on an orange background with the text 'People come. Ask a lot of questions. It's frustrating because I know that they've read it on my file.'Artwork of a baby with the text 'I've always had a connection with children. I want to bring them into the world. I want to be a midwife.'Artwork of three sad, purple spiders on a pink background with white text 'Two weeks ago a spider came running from the living room and it had big legs.'