Young people navigating their way through the care system in Torbay will have a handy reference guide from now on thanks to care experienced Amber Brown.

Amber, 23, has co-written Torbay’s first Becoming Cared For guide, after feeling overwhelmed when they first entered care at seven years old.

Amber, who was in care until they were 18, said: “I remember not knowing who I could trust. I felt terrified. My life had been flipped on its head overnight.

“My experience of care was mixed but generally it was positive. Everyone in my care team was incredible and my foster carers were brilliant.

“I wanted to see a system where young people were listened to, cared for, cherished and had a voice. I dreamt up the guide in a fever dream about four years ago. I became the change I wanted to see.”

Amber worked with the council’s participation team to put the guide together, interviewing lots of teams at the council. The guide also went to Torbay’s Children in Care Council for their feedback.

They then worked with the council’s design team to create a guide that was accessible for its audience – the guide is aimed at children over 10 years old.

Amber added: “I’m so proud of this guide. Visually it’s beautiful. A big part of it is that young people know their rights from day one.”

After leaving care, Amber went on to study biology at university and now works in children’s mental health in Gloucestershire advocating for young people.

Amber returned to Torbay to launch the guide at a meeting of the council’s Children’s Services teams.

The guide covers:

• Torbay’s pledge to young people entering care
• the different types of care placements
• what key personnel do
• the rights of children in care
• the different types of meetings and plans
• useful support organisations and contacts
• education and special needs support
• what happens when you leave care
• some commonly-used terms

Councillor Nick Bye, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Entering care can be frightening for a young person and having something like this guide to hand which answers some common questions can be helpful.

“What’s more, it’s not a guide put together by council officers, but by a young person who has lived through the care system and knows what they’re talking about. This guide is an excellent example of co-production.”

Photo shows Amber with the guide