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Kent Cares Town

Thanks for visiting Kent Cares Town. This website is for all young people who are or who have been in the care of Kent County Council. Choose the section that best suits you to find out more.

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Primary

This is the section to find out everything you need to know about being in care if you are aged under 11. Click on the superheroes below!

primary portal

Secondary

Aged 11 to 16? Click below to learn about being in care, how Kent County Council supports your education and health and lots more.

secondary portal

Moving On

Click here to find out about what happens when you turn 18. The information here will help you plan for when you leave care and start to live independently.

moving on portal

Get Involved!

There is a gallery of wonderful art created by children in care and you can even send in your poems, stories and experiences to our Writers’ Corner!

Latest News

Keep up to date with all the latest news!

Visit to the Parliament

A collage of photos from the Parliament trip. Photo on the left includes Nathan, Janet Daby and Georgie. The top photo on the right is Nathan and Georgie in front of Parliament. The bottom photo on the right shows the courtyard within Parliament.

On Monday 17th February, we were fortunate enough to meet with members of other South East Children in Care Councils for a conversation with Janet Daby, Minister for Children and Families, and a tour of Parliament. Young people from Bracknell, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, and Kent joined together in discussion with the Minister to explore issues affecting children in care and advocate for other care-experienced children.

Everyone had insightful questions around national offers of support, education and stigma, as well as long-term social work reforms. Minister Daby was approachable and reassuring, with promises to further research these concerns.

Following this discussion, the group was invited on a private tour of Parliament. This was certainly one of the highlights of the day and opened up a world of history.

The young people’s final thoughts were:

  • “The Minister listened to my thoughts and took what I said on board.”
  • “We were fortunate to not only be invited on such a wonderful day, but also to have our opinions truly valued and actioned for further debate…it shows a changing attitude towards social care.”
  • “I feel really heard by being invited to Parliament to speak with the Minister and the general experience was super!”
  • “It was very interesting and I’m happy I got to represent people in care and RBWM and meet the Minister.”
  • “It was a great experience to be able to meet one of the many important ministers and we gained more knowledge about how they are going to help us!”

Georgie and Nathan, the VSK Participation Team

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The January Participation Team newsletter has just been sent out! 📩

The January Participation Team newsletter has just been sent out! 📩 We send out newsletters three times a year to share what the team has been up to - our fun activity days, interesting projects, updates on our council groups as well as any other events that have happened in the last couple of months.

Read the latest newsletter!

And sign up for future ones!

Summer Holidays

Summer holidays collage with flowers and fruit decorating the frame. The pictures in the collage are:  a red panda eating from a bowl, young people in canoes, two people blowing bubbles at each other, three archery targets.

This Summer has been action packed, full of fun activities and events for our young people!

We kicked off the Summer with our Corporate Parenting Event at the Malling school in Maidstone. This event celebrated the importance of Corporate Parenting and gave young people the opportunity to meet with some of their Corporate Parents, including the Chairman of Kent County Council and the Chair of Corporate Parenting Panel, as well as senior Directors, Assistant Directors, and Service Managers from within Integrated Children’s Services. We were also pleased to welcome representatives of the Children’s Commissioner at the event. Young People and their Corporate Parents had the chance to bake and decorate nature inspired cupcakes together and design and create bug hotels and bird feeders.  

Throughout the Summer, we held many activity days across the county. Young People enjoyed the rides at Diggerland in Strood, paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing near Canterbury and bushcraft at Shorne Country Park near Gravesend. There were also lots of opportunities for animal spotting, with trips to Port Lympe and Wingham Wildlife Park and a day for disabled young people and their households at the Rare Breeds Centre in Ashford. Younger children enjoyed Teddy Bear Picnics with games and arts and crafts.

It was brilliant seeing so many familiar faces and meeting lots of new young people too and we’re already looking forward to the October School Holiday!

Adoption Picnic

On Friday 11th August, we held our Annual Summer picnic for our Adopted Families. The Young People had a chance to see Captain Fantastic do some magic tricks, balloon making and party entertaining! The families also got the opportunity to see and hold some reptiles including snakes, spiders and lizards.It was a lovely day for all families to get together and have some fun in the sun. As well as getting their crafts hands on at our arts and crafts stalls. The Young People made their own DIY suncatchers and for the little ones they decorated their own henry the hedgehog. It was a great day had by all!

Post 16 Awards

Awards room with a projector, tables and a backdrop with 'VSK Celebration Awards 2023'  framed in green, white and gold balloons

On Tuesday 25th July, the Participation Team alongside the VSK Post 16 Team were delighted to welcome just over 150 young people and their guests, as well as senior KCC staff and elected members, to our annual Post 16 Awards Celebration.

This year, we decided to do things a little bit differently and hosted the event at Marleybrook House, a beautiful venue near Canterbury with its own funfair. Young people and their guests had the opportunity to play garden games, experience all the funfair had to offer and of course, receive their awards from senior staff and elected members, including KCC’s Chairman, Mr. Gary Cooke.

It was brilliant to be able to recognise all the young people’s hard work in their education and in the community and celebrate all of their achievements this year. Many of the young people’s stories were incredibly inspiring, showcasing their resilience, determination and perseverance to do their very best, often in the face of adversity. We are already looking forward to next year!

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Corporate Parents

When you are in care, your corporate parents are the people who have responsibility for keeping you safe and looking after your wellbeing. They make sure your time in care is as positive as it can be, listen to your opinions and have your best interests at heart. They will help you if you have a problem and care about how you are feeling.

This isn’t just one person but a large group of different people. Your corporate parents include staff in Kent County Council like your social worker, personal adviser or independent reviewing officer, doctors, nurses and other health care workers, the police, staff in schools and colleges and others who work with and look after you. It also includes senior staff at Kent County Council. Some of these people are shown below.

Photo of Sarah Hammond

Sarah Hammond

 Corporate Director Children, Young People and Education

Photo of Roger Gough

Roger Gough

Leader of the Council

“I think it is really important that children in care have people to speak for them, to support them and to promote their interests.”

Photo of Shellina Prendergast

Shellina Prendergast

Chairman of Corporate Parenting Panel.

Photo of Ingrid Crisan

Ingrid Crisan

Director Integrated Services (Early Help and Preventative Services Lead)

Photo of Kevin Kasevan

Kevin Kasevan

Director of Children’s Countywide Services

Photo of Caroline Smith

Caroline Smith

Assistant Director for Corporate Parenting

“As a Corporate Parent, I want the absolute best for our children and young people, ensuring they get the right support to achieve their full potential.”

Photo of Tony Doran

Tony Doran

VSK Headteacher

“The best thing about my job is seeing the great outcomes achieved by the amazing young people that I serve.”

Photo of Maria Cordrey

Maria Cordrey

Head of Fostering – East

“Our aim is to recruit and supervise the very best foster carers to promote a safe and secure environment for children and young people in Kent.”

Photo of Nimesh Patel

Nimesh Patel

Head of Care Leavers 18+ Service

Photo of Mark Weinel

Mark Weinel

Head of Care Leavers 18+ Service

Photo of Mark Vening

Mark Vening

Head of Fostering – West

Photo of Sue Chandler

Sue Chandler

Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services

Photo of Rory Love

Rory Love

Cabinet Member for Education and Skills

Photo of Danielle Babin

Danielle Babin

Service Manager- North Kent Children in Care Team

Photo of Paul Meggitt

Paul Meggitt

Service Manager – West Kent Children in Care Team

Photo of Rebecca Ransley

Rebecca Ransley

Service Manager – South Kent Children in Care Team

Photo of Anne Nerva

Anne Nerva

Service Manager – East Kent Children in Care Team

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