Have your say: get involved as a care leaver

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There are lots of ways to share your views and get involved. You can help make services better for you and other young people.

Page contents

• Surrey Youth Voice
• Paid opportunities video
• Care Leavers' Forum
• Advocacy and Complaints Service
• Your Care - Have Your Say survey
• Our Voice Matters survey

Surrey Youth Voice

Surrey Youth Voice is a team at Surrey County Council. We help you share your views and make services better.

You can:

• join groups
• take part in meetings
• give feedback on things like mental health support

You can also help redesign services and train staff. Some young people help with job interviews for the council and get paid for their time.

Use the Surrey Youth Voice form to send us a message

Follow us on Instagram (@ourvoicesurrey) and send us a direct message.

You can also find out Meet the team

Paid opportunities video

Care Leavers' Forum

The care leavers' forum is for young people over 18. You can talk about issues you face and get support. The group also shares ideas to help improve care services.

It’s a good place to meet others who have had similar experiences.

What young people say:

“The session was really good. I thought I would be nervous, but my confidence has grown and will continue to grow the more I attend.”

"Everyone was really friendly and was open with their experiences which helped me to open up".

“The group has pushed me to have conversations with people in the same position – it's refreshing.”

Use the Surrey Youth Voice form to get in touch.

Advocacy and Complaints Service

We want you to feel confident to speak up for yourself. This means saying what you think and what you need.

You can:

• make a complaint if you’re unhappy
• try to solve a problem
• meet with professionals who can help

Advocacy means having someone help you share your views and wishes.

This can help you:

• understand decisions made about you
• make sure professionals know what you want and how you feel

All staff working with young people should help you have your say. We try not to involve too many adults, so you know who to go to for help. Advocacy starts with the people who work with you, but if you want someone else to help with a complaint or problem, you can ask for that.

Find out about Reconstruct advocacy support.

You can also talk to your personal adviser or email the Surrey Customer Relations team at be.heard@surreycc.gov.uk.

If you wish to speak to someone about advocacy support or to make a complaint, first speak to your personal adviser, or email the Surrey Customer Relations team at be.heard@surreycc.gov.uk.

Your Care – Have Your Say survey

Each year, you can share your views in the Your Care – Have Your Say survey. This survey was designed by young people for young people.

The survey asks about:

• education, employment and training
• health and wellbeing
• preparing for independence
• safe and stable homes
• staying safe

Your feedback is shared with Surrey's Corporate Parenting Board to help improve services.

Our Voice Matters

The Our Voice Matters survey is for all young people aged 7 to 25 in Surrey. You can share your views on topics like:

• community
• education
• environment
• transport
• health

The survey is designed by young people.

See results from the last Our Voice Matters survey.

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