Supporting children in care over the summer holidays

However, for children in care, of which 80 per cent suffer a diagnosable mental health disorder, this is frequently not the reality. The lack of routine and school-run activities can curate a stressful and unpredictable environment which can exacerbate these mental health concerns and require extra support. But unfortunately, the very nature of summer school holidays means that the required support is not usually available to vulnerable children in care during the height of summer.

Regular routine helps to create a sense of stability which is essential for healthy physical and emotional development. When a child has suffered trauma, which so many children in care have, managing difficult feelings can be a tough battle making for turbulent emotions and compromised wellbeing.

For any child, routine is important. However due to the lack of structure and support in their home environments, children in the care system are in particular need of support as they often lack the comfort of a traditional family unit. Teachers and school friends often play a huge part in improving looked after children’s lives. Adjusting to the absence of these reliable figures of support over the summer can be incredibly difficult, especially as children in care often suffer from abandonment issues.

Lack of community is another factor children in care struggle with and this is often overlooked. Most children consistently remain in one area throughout their childhood, but children in care are often moved from their hometown across several care facilities; some as many as 500 miles away. This can make it difficult to socialise and pursue hobbies which can create positive relationships and safe environments. Instead, many vulnerable children find the summer holidays isolating and can lead them down a dangerous path such as being targeted by county lines gangs.

County lines gangs are groups of adults who specifically target vulnerable young people and children in care and lure them into drug running gangs with insincere offers of friendships and gifts. Some heartbreaking cases involve gang leaders exploiting children as young as seven who are then controlled by fear and ‘debt bonds’, whereby a child must repay a ‘gift’ through service to the gang. Ensuring that children feel secure and integrated into their community makes it easier for them to speak up before they are abused and exploited by vicious gangs.

At Serenity Welfare, the child-focused organisation I founded, we help children in care to overcome their trauma through alternative therapies and positive activities they’ll enjoy, such as dramatherapy and music therapy. For example, after multiple sessions of dramatherapy, a 15-year-old child in care that we were recently supporting was able to process and heal from their trauma, growing confidence and improve their ability to manage their emotions.

Dramatherapy is just one of many ways to support a child in care over the holidays and legal guardians of children in care can help minimise the disruption of summer holidays by trying to engage them in such activities. Building a routine and providing children and young people with alternative ways to express their feelings and relieve stress and anxiety is vital and the government needs to offer additional support in order to facilitate these opportunities and make them accessible to all, regardless of location or economic background.

Emily Aklan is founder of Serenity Welfare.