By Rachel Cole, 2025
Children in care
About this theme
This theme covers topics relating to improving the lives and outcomes of children and young people with experience of care. It is one of our current programmes for Fellowships, launched in 2023. It has been developed in partnership with the Hadley Trust, Coram Group and in consultation with our Children in Care working group. Fellows’ stories
Scott Darraugh (CF 2025) spoke at an online Social Club event about his Fellowship research into approaches to fostering and support for care leavers in the USA.
By Scott Darraugh, 2026
Terri-Anne Hamer (CF 2025) presented at the Consortium for Therapeutic Communities’ annual international conference, sharing work from the Voices of Care Leavers project.
By Terri-Anne Hamer, 2026
Clare Holdsworth (CF 2025) presented findings from her Fellowship at an event hosted by Coram Voice, bringing together representatives from the Department for Education, Ofsted, local authorities, and other organisations.
By Clare Holdsworth, 2026
Terri-Anne Hamer (CF 2025) appeared on the 100th episode of The Messy Social Work Podcast, discussing care experience, loneliness, identity, and parenting.
By Terri-Anne Hamer, 2026
Nicola Kalisperas (CF 2026) met Children’s Minister Josh MacAlister MP, Jo White MP, Department for Education representatives, and foster carer campaigner Rae Mortimer at the Houses of Parliament to discuss the needs of babies experiencing separation, loss, and transitions in care.
By Nicola Kalisperas, 2026
Terri-Anne Hamer (CF 2025) spoke at It Takes a Village, But Where’s Mine?, a webinar hosted by Coram-i and After Cloud exploring how the life stories and connections of children and young people growing up in care can be meaningfully preserved.
By Terri-Anne Hamer, 2026
Through the first leg of his Fellowship in the USA, Grant Trainer explored what it means to protect and support children with experience of care. Drawing on learning from organisations in Albany, New York City, Brooklyn, and Seattle, he reflects on approaches that place children’s identity, dignity, and relationships at the heart of protection. He is now bringing this learning back to Scotland, where it is shaping his research into policing, care experience, and trauma-informed support, ahead of the next stage of his Fellowship in New Zealand.
By Grant Trainer, 2026
Niketa Sanderson-Gillard (CF 2024) appeared on The Relational Social Work Podcast alongside Luke Rodgers to discuss proposed reforms to fostering standards and guidance.
By Niketa Sanderson-Gillard, 2026
Jeannot Farmer (CF 2023 ) was in the public gallery at the Houses of Parliament on 2nd of July, when Sir Prime Minister Keir Starmer made his profound apology to those affected by historic adoption practices that forcibly separated babies from their unmarried mothers. Jeannot was honoured to be invited by the Secretary of State for Education to an event in Speaker’s House following the apology.
By Jeannot Farmer, 2026