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We are currently updating our website, until then we have
provided some information about our organisation that you might
find helpful.

Mission

Vision

Background

Values

Overview of Projects

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Current staff vacancies

Do you care? website

If you have any questions or would like any further information contact your local office.

 

Mission

VOYPIC is an independent regional charity that seeks to empower and enable care experienced children and young people to participate fully in decisions affecting their lives. Our aim is to improve their life chances through working in partnership with children, young people, staff, managers, agencies and government. We listen and learn from what young people tell us and facilitate positive change in legislation, policy and practice. Core services include: Participation, Advocacy, Mentoring, Policy and Research.

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Vision

To put care experienced children and young people’s voice at the heart of all decision making.

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definition

By care experienced VOYPIC mean: children and young people aged 0 to 25 yrs who are or who have been looked after by social services, that is, young people who are currently or have lived in a children’s home, foster care, secure care, home on trial, in a hospital setting or participants in an aftercare project.

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Background

In July 1993, a Forum with membership drawn from the Voluntary Sector and Statutory Social Services involving both practitioners and managers came together to explore how to develop and support a young people led organisation for care experienced children and young people.  VOYPIC was established as Company Limited by Guarantee, in February 1996 and employed 4 Care experienced Development Workers and a Regional Co-ordinator.

From 1999-2002 VOYPIC reviewed the agency’s vision and development, measured achievements and explored its current work, difficulties and challenges. A new strategic plan and agency structure was agreed. Securing appropriate resources proved challenging and the strategic plan was implemented incrementally. Listening and learning from the experience, the core elements of the vision, mission and values remained relevant but a radical re-structuring of the agency was required. This involved developing the current five distinct projects, recruiting new staff, including care experienced trainees and setting up neworganisational systems to meet the demands of a rapidly expanding agency.

In 2007 three new locality based offices were established in Derry, Ballymena and Lurgan with a significant increase in personnel.

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Values

Champions of change: Driving Innovation

VOYPIC believes that government and all agencies including our own, should adhere to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

Children and young people should be:

  • Encouraged to respect the dignity of themselves and others, regardless of background, race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, political opinion disability, gender, sexual orientation, culture, age or other status
  • Listened to, and have their views properly and fully considered in all decisions affecting them
  • Aware of their rights and the rights of others and empowered/ enabled to use them
  • Assisted when necessary to understand issues that concern them

 

To promote and practice these values VOYPIC will:

  • Demonstrate Respect, Commitment, Listening, Activism, and Transparency
  • Be driven by the needs and aspirations of children and young people and be dedicated to improving their life chances
  • Work with children, young people, and other stakeholder agencies to promote and develop good practice
  • Celebrate success and ensure that children and young people have fun

 

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Overview of Projects

Participation
The Participation Project provides an introduction to VOYPIC. It facilitates and supports the growth and development of care experienced young people aged 0-25years by encouraging their personal and social development through group and individual work enabling them to get involved and make a difference.

Advocacy
Offers children and young people with care experience a confidential service outside of social services where they can get advice, information and support.

ADVOCACY LINE: 08450 742 942

Policy
The policy project is responsible for ensuring that the views and experiences of children and young people are brought to the relevant decision makers within personal social services.   The project also assists in the planning, implementation and evaluation of related policy and practice initiatives and legislative developments.

Mentoring
Provides a service for young people aged 12-18 years old, who are ‘looked after’, who are at risk or have been suspended or expelled from school who could benefit from having a Mentor.

Research
Through Participatory Action Research, VOYPIC ensures that Care experienced children are fully involved in research. They advise and guide all aspects of the work e.g designing the tools and carrying out the research.

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Overview of Projects

If you would like to contact us about any of our services please contact your local office:

Belfast
Voice of Young People In Care
9-11 Botanic Avenue
Belfast
BT7 1JG
Tel: 02890 244888
Fax: 02890 240679

Ballymena
Voice of Young People In Care
Ballymena Community Forum
Glendun Drive
Ballymena
BT43 6ER
Tel: 02825 632641
Fax: 02825 655934

Derry
Voice of Young People In Care
Tracey House
29 Clarendon Street
Derry
BT48 7ER
Tel: 02871 378980
Fax: 02871 377938

Lurgan
Voice of Young People In Care
Flat 12
Mount Zion House
Edward Street
Lurgan
BT66 6DB
Tel: 02838 313380
Fax: 02838 324689

 

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© Voypic 2007