British Youth Council calls for improved counselling services for young people in care.

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Thursday, 13, Dec 2007 12:00

The British Youth Council (BYC) today urged politicians to make sure they provide sufficient counselling services to support young people who are in care or care leavers.

BYC are calling for an amendment to the Children and Young Persons Bill to place a duty on local authorities to provide counselling to young people in care and leaving care.

The Children and Young Persons Bill is due to be next examined by a Committee in the House of Lords on January 8th 2008.

BYC consulted its member organisations who strongly highlighted the need for counselling services to be readily available to those in the care system.

Eleanor Roth from member organisation Young Devon said: “I work in a youth counselling service and am often shocked by the lack of psychological support care leavers have been offered.

“Counselling needs to be made more accessible to young people who are in care, and after they have left.”

Although acknowledging the need for an amendment to provide for counselling support services, BYC has welcomed the publication of the Bill as it aims to ensure high quality care and support for young people in care and services focused on young people’s needs.

In particular BYC supports new requirements to ensure that local authorities give due consideration to any views expressed by young people in care through the use of ‘Independent Reviewing Officers’. This accords with BYC’s belief that young people have a right to have a voice and participate in decisions which affect them.

Ends.

Notes to Editors:

For further information please contact:

Helen Deakin

Policy Officer

British Youth Council

0207 7022 1974

Helen.Deakin@byc.org.uk

www.byc.org.uk

BYC is the national youth council and voice for young people under 26 living in the UK. We represent and involve a unique coalition of young people through their involvement as individuals or through national, regional or local youth organisations.

BYC’s coalition includes over 170 national youth organisations such as Girlguiding UK, campaigning organisations such as the National Union of Students (NUS) and youth wings of trade unions, political parties, faith and arts organisations. Also within our membership and network are 400 local youth councils and organisations representing specific groups such as lesbian, gay and bisexual and black and minority ethnic young people.

BYC works to ensure that young people are involved at every level of decision-making to allow them to be represented and to make their voices heard.

We aim to do four things: Provide a voice for young people; Promote equality for young people; Help young people be more involved in decisions that affect their lives; Advance young people’s participation in society and civil life.