Photo: Channel 4 Press
Last night, Channel 4 aired a documentary about the experiences of three teenagers leaving their children’s homes to live independently.
Despite the late hour (11pm), ‘Kicked Out Kids’ trended on twitter. Its upfront portrayal of the journeys and feelings of Demornia, 17, Connor, 17, (pictured) and Jemma, 18, as they left care, or approached leaving, generated sympathy, anger and debate online.
Here are just some of the responses on Twitter:
Kicked Out Kids will soon be available to watch on 4od.
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These views reflect those shared with the Every Child Leaving Care Matters (ECLCM) campaign team since December 2013. The need to support all care leavers beyond the age of 18, including allowing them to remain in their last placement when it is their wish, their carers agree and it meets their needs to do so, has been overwhelmingly established over and over again and is supported by care leavers, residential and foster care providers and the social work profession. The immediate costs would almost certainly be met by the long term savings on welfare, custody, health care, etc as many more care leavers successfully make the transition to a happy independent adulthood at the first attempt. What on earth is the government waiting for?
Hi. I was in the film (Jemma) I was glad to tell my story I hope I helped other people!
Hi Jemma,
Thanks for getting in touch. I’m so glad you found the documentary a positive experience. I’m sure your story will have helped other people, and hopefully highlighted that we need much better support for young people leaving care in this country.
Very best wishes for your future,
Camilla (and the whole Community Care team) x
When I first found out about the discrimination between children in residential care and children in foster care, I was shell-shocked. I really couldn’t believe that the government would do this or be able to get away with it. I felt so much empathy with the kids leaving care and anger at the lack of support back in December 2013, that I helped set up the Every Child Leaving Care Campaign (ECLCM) and became the social media coordinator. I’ve written a bit more about my own response to the programme here: http://tinyurl.com/kickedoutkids