South Tyneside DFE Projects

Two projects, commissioned by South Tyneside Council and funded by the DfE, sought to understand the impact of Covid-19 on Children in Care Councils, and supervised contact (family time).

South Tyneside Council projects funded by the Department for Education

We were commissioned by South Tyneside Council, as part of the Department for Education’s Partner Improvement Practice work, to undertake two important projects between October 2020 and June 2021:

The Compass Project (Focusing on Children in Care Councils during COVID-19)

Time Together (Focusing on Family Time during COVID-19)

Blue Cabin brought together a skilled team of academics, researchers, artists, and producers to deliver these projects. Click on the links below for more information about each project.

Partners and Funders

Project Partner: South Tyneside Council, Project Funder: Department for Education

Project Overview

Blue Cabin were commissioned by South Tyneside Council to undertake the Compass project, focusing on Children in Care Councils during COVID-19. We brought together a skilled team of academics, researchers, artists, and producers to make the Compass project happen, between October 2020 and Summer 2021.

Working in partnership with North East Local Authorities’ Children in Care Councils (CiCCs) we explored:

  • What worked for children and young people’s participation and engagement during lockdown and what was challenging?
  • Did the voice of the CiCC continue to inform service?
  • What types of communication were important in sustaining relationships with young people?

You can download a copy of the Compass Project Final Report and the Literature Review from the related Resource pages.

 

Animated Film

This fantastic animation was made by members of Children in Care Councils and animator Sheryl Jenkins and explores how the pandemic affected young people’s voices being heard.

Project Overview

Blue Cabin worked with a team of independent researchers (Heather Yoeli, Delyth Edwards and Clive Diaz), Associate Artists (Michelle Wood, Elena Miller and Carol Bowden), care-experienced children, young people and families, and South Tyneside Council to examine how the disruption to Family Time during COVID-19 affected care-experienced families.

The research centred the voices of care-experienced children and young people and families across the North East and, as part of the research, three birth mothers (Keira, Jackie and Shanice), very kindly shared their stories of what led to their children being in care, and what it’s been like keeping in touch during the pandemic.

You can download a copy of the Time Together Literature Review from the related Resource page.

Birth Mother Stories - Shanice*

*Shanice is a pseudonym

Birth Mother Stories - Jackie

Birth Mother Stories - Keira*

*Keira is a pseudonym