Voice of Young People In Care (VOYPIC)

Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) is an independent Northern Ireland charity that seeks to empower and enable children and young people cared for away from home with to participate fully in decisions affecting their lives.

We aim to improve the life chances of care experienced children and young people by listening and learning from what they tell us about their experience to facilitate positive change in legislation, policy and practice. We work in partnership with children, young people, staff, managers, agencies and government.

Our core services include:

Advocacy: This service helps children and young people to find out about their rights and participate in decision-making processes.

Mentoring: This service matches volunteer mentors with young people aged 12 -18 who are or are at risk of suspension or exclusion from school.

Participation: This service provides a range of programmes and activities in which children and young people can learn new skills, meet new friends and have fun.

Policy: This service provides opportunities for care experienced children and young people throughout Northern Ireland to inform and shape policy and practice which impacts on their lives.

Through its policy work, VOYPIC engages directly with care experienced children and young people. We use group work, individual support and online resources to ascertain their views and perceptions of life in care and the transition to independence and adulthood. Children and young people are also supported to represent themselves and their peers in key forums and events.

We use all the information gathered from children and young people and share this with key decision makers who plan and deliver services for looked after children at a local and regional level.