Rutland County Council signs "hugely important" pledge to kids in care

Rutland County Council have signed up to the 'My Things Matter' campaign, pledging to children in care in Rutland that their belongings will be moved with dignity and respect.

Children's rights charity NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) report that 4 in 5 young people in care will have their items moved in bin bags.

3 in 5 children and young people in care will have their belongings lost or damaged when moving.

The campaign asks local authorities like RCC that they pledge the following to kids in care:

1. We will help you to keep your most precious belongings with you safely during your move and promise they will not be moved in bin bags.

2. We will provide written guidance for you and anyone helping you to move, which we will publish on our website.

3. We will never move or throw away your belongings without your consent and will always respect your personal property.

4. We will support you to make a complaint if any of your belongings have been lost or damaged during your move.

5. We will communicate with you about your move and ask you how the move went.

Cllr David Wilby, Portfolio Holder for Education and Children's Services, says it's a "hugely important" initiative to sign up to:

'When you're a child, it doesn't matter what age you are, particularly if you've been in hard circumstances totally out of your control most of the time, anything that you have is really important to you.'

'Sometimes in the move some of their stuff has got lost or thrown away, that to a child who is already in problems is heart-breaking.'

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• children in care