The Care Champions

The Care Champions are a group of care leavers aged 18-25 who meet regularly to discuss important issues that are important to adults who've experienced care. They make sure the views of care leavers have influence over the way care services are run. The group also help us with a number of key influencing activities:

The Care Champions are regularly involved in the recruitment of new members of staff. Over the past year, they've helped us recruit Team Managers and Leaving Care Coaches.

The Care Champions are currently developing a half-day training for Leaving Care staff and other professionals to give them an insight into what it is like to be a care leaver in Waltham Forest. It will be led by members of the Care Champions with limited involvement from the Voice and Influence Service. The training will allow participants a chance to be trained by the young people they work with.

In their role representing the voice of care experienced young people, the CiCC and Care Champions are members of the Corporate Parenting Board. Working with elected members and other senior managers the CiCC and Care Champions provide vital insight and contributions to the board.

The group also take part in a number of fun activities when not undertaking influencing activities. Over the past few year’s trips have included: go karting, Top Golf, meals out and bike rides.

All the direct influencing work that the Care Champions assist with is incentivised with vouchers payments.

If you’re interested you can speak to Toye Oloyede by phone or email.

If you don’t want to join the Care Champions you can still expect to hear from us. We send out questionnaires to all care leavers so that they can tell us what you think about leaving care – lookout for these because you can earn vouchers for completing them and it helps to influence the service you receive.

We also send you information about events that we have got coming up so you can get involved if you want to.