BY MADELEINE WEAVER – COMMUNICATIONS & POLICY OFFICER
EMERGING VOICES | COPRODUCTION | INFLUENCING

For the past two years, we have been working with a group of young Care Experts to co-produce two seasons of the Let’s Talk Conflict podcast.

Through our podcast, we want to raise awareness around the issues affecting the care experienced community, and to share real life experiences of conflict in the care system and how to navigate it effectively.

THE LET’S TALK CONFLICT PODCAST GROUP AT THEIR SEASON 2 CELEBRATION EVENT IN LONDON, MAY 2022

“CAN’T RECOMMEND THIS PODCAST FROM @LEAP_CC ENOUGH. YOU’LL HEAR FROM CARE EXPERTS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES OF THE UK’S CARE SYSTEM AND WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE. IT IS BIG-HEARTED, INFORMATIVE – FOOD FOR THE MIND AND SOUL.”

We are incredibly proud to have worked so closely with a group of young Care Experts over the past two years to co-produce Let’s Talk Conflict. The group have been involved in every step of the production process – including planning content, hosting episodes, and developing a marketing strategy for the podcast. You can learn more about the co-production journey in Episode 7, Season 1.

“I WAS REALLY FRUSTRATED IN CARE GROWING UP. I DIDN’T HAVE AN OUTLET FOR THAT ANGER OR FRUSTRATION. I SEE THIS PODCAST AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OTHERS WHO ARE IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS AND HAVING TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS.”

The Let’s Talk Conflict podcast is already having a positive impact – influencing policy, practice and beliefs/opinions surrounding the care system. Following the success of Episode 4, Season 1, the group got the opportunity to feed directly into the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, meeting with Josh MacAlister to discuss the change that is needed in the care system. We have also been invited to join the Children in Care APPG this autumn.

“WORKING WITH LEAP HAS GIVEN US THE BIGGEST PLATFORM FOR OUR VOICES. I REALLY HOPE THAT THIS PODCAST REACHES NOT ONLY PROFESSIONALS IN THE CARE SECTOR, BUT YOUNG PEOPLE AS WELL.”

The theme for Season 2 is personal development, including episodes on relationships, success, mental health and trauma. And don’t miss Episode 6 – where the group highlight the biggest issues facing young people in the current system, and how they would redesign the care system to enable young people to thrive.

We want this podcast to be part of a positive change in the lives of care experienced young people – so that in their lives, in their communities and in society, they are thriving, not just surviving.

You can listen to all episodes now. Please listen, like and share with your networks to help us reach more people.

Thank you to the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Kurt and Magda Stern Foundation, Rayne Foundation and Treebeard Trust for funding this project.

Most importantly, thank you to Aíne, Alice, Ashley, Evie, George, Jade, Leanne, Shenika, Tiff and Will for sharing your stories and for your passion to create change in the care system.