The This is Not a Suitcase campaign by A National Voice, a charity run by and for "care experienced" young people, was launched a year ago. It followed consultations that showed the practice of moving placements with personal possessions in bin bags was a very common source of offence and complaint among young people in care.
The Independent Fostering Providers Forum has responded by developing a policy stating that the use of bin bags is unacceptable. And John Coughlan, co-chair of the Association of Directors of Social Services' Children and Families Committee, told Children Now his organisation would be following suit.
Philip Sutton, development worker at The Fostering Network and spokesman for the forum, said: "The costs involved in purchasing a reasonable set of luggage for children are minimal. The independent sector feels strongly enough about the issue to provide young people with their own bags."
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