The Live Wire

ePolitix Interviews and Articles

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Local authorities 'not just inconsistent on adoption'
31st October 2011
Introducing measures to ensure improvements in the fostering and adoption system is all very well, but it is also important that government pays attention to children leaving care, says Janet Rich of National Care Leavers' Week.

Lack of equality for care leavers
27th October 2011
There is a growing body of evidence to suggest unequal treatment of care leavers by local authorities, a backbench MP has said.

'Careism exists'
20th October 2011
It is a national disgrace in this day and age that people still have reason to think they may be treated prejudicially simply for being in care, says Mike Lindsay, head of advice at the Office of the Children's Rights Director

'Care-leavers need stability'
11th October 2011
Having grown up in a family that cared for over 90 foster children, Edward Timpson MP, chair of the APPG on children in and leaving care, says the care system remains too 'fragmented, disjointed and unstable'.

From care-leaver, to Cambridge, to The X Factor
7th October 2011
Cambridge graduate Ashley John Baptiste is fresh from his live appearance on The X Factor with new band The Risk – after growing up in foster care he talks about what has driven him to succeed.

Read our interview with Professor Mike Kelly, Public Health Excellence Centre Director at NICE

Nice Work if You Can Get It
Helen Mason, talks about her own experience from child in care to influential professional and her hopes for the Guidance published this week by NICE AND SCIE Promoting the quality of life of looked-after children and young.

Stakeholder Interviews


22 year-old care leaver Jessica Inwood has just started her degree course at London Metropolitan University. She is also managing the text and twitter diary campaign for National Care Leavers' Week. Jess talks about how she overcame the odds to gain a coveted university place.

Young performer Kyle 'Kay-Jay' Simmons gives our first interview for 2010, explaining the inspiration behind the song 'Keep Dreaming' and outlining the things he thinks Government needs to change to give all care leavers a better start in life.

Read a full interview with Kay.Jaye here

See below for previous interviews and visit us again to check for new interviews throughout the year.

Peter Duxbury - Director of children's services, Lincolnshire County Council (November 2009)

Janet Rich - Care Leavers' Foundation and coordinator of National Care Leavers' Week (October 2009)

Mathew Huggins - Care Matters Partnership (October 2009)

Baroness Morgan - parliamentary under-secretary for children, young people and families (October 2008)

Carol Floris - Voices from Care Cymru (October 2008)

Paul Murphy - Wales secretary (6 August 2008)

John Kemmis - Voice (23 June 2008)

Kevin Brennan - children's minister

Janet Rich

John Hill

Benni-Jo Tyler

Brendan McNutt

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