Cllr Maggie Tyrrell from South Gloucestershire Council - cabinet member for children and young people - has written about the importance of children’s homes 

Letter to the editor 

We all want to see children get the best possible start in life, so that they can thrive and live happy and healthy lives.

As parents, we normally do everything in our power to give them that start.

But not all families are the same, and sometimes, through no fault of their own, some children can’t live with their parents or other family members.  

When a child comes into the care of the council, we become their corporate parent. That means we take responsibility for their upbringing and welfare, and it’s a responsibility we take incredibly seriously. 

Ideally, a child’s time in care will be temporary.

While parents get the help they need, a child might live with relatives, or with a foster family, and in some cases, where it’s the best option for that young person, they might live in a children’s home.

For some children they need to remain living in a children’s home until they are able to live more independently, or with reduced support.

These homes look from the outside and, as far as possible inside, feel like a normal family home.

Typically, two or three children will be supported by two or three staff, that are trained to help children who are trying to make the most of their lives, having suffered the trauma of a family breakdown. 

In South Gloucestershire we use this type of placement, but we don’t have enough of them close to home, so children sometimes have to live long distances away from their communities, friends, schools, and everything else that is familiar to them.

This can make rebuilding their lives much harder, and it’s why we are actively growing the number of homes available in the district to support those children who need us to be there for them. 

Gazette Series: Cllr Maggie Tyrrell from South Gloucestershire Council has written about the importance of children’s homes Cllr Maggie Tyrrell from South Gloucestershire Council has written about the importance of children’s homes (Image: South Gloucestershire Council / Doug Fowler)

The council announced this policy last year and has been working to find suitable properties since then, as well as working to appoint a partner organisation that will run the homes once they are purchased, providing highly trained staff to work with these children. 

As the council cabinet member with responsibility for these services, I feel our collective duty to these children very strongly, although all councillors have a shared responsibility as corporate parents.

I have had the privilege of meeting many of these children and they have told me clearly, that without help and support from the council and our partners, their lives could have turned out very differently.

They are not just children in care, or care leavers.

They are students and friends, apprentices and workmates. They are a part of our community and they have need of our support.  

They are literally our neighbours and, just as we have shown as a community, during the pandemic, or in opening our hearts and homes to those fleeing war in Ukraine, I trust that our strength as a welcoming community, will be something that all our children can lean on at the most difficult times in their lives. 

Sincerely, 

Cllr Tyrrell

For more information about the council's work see here - tinyurl.com/2ejfucm2