Oldham care boxes help children entering care

Every Thursday morning, Nicola from Oldham Council's Safeguarding and Care Planning Team sits down to hand-pack welcome boxes for children entering care. Each box is carefully tailored to the child's age and needs, filled with comforting items like books, blankets, fidget toys, and toiletries. The initiative, called 'Welcome Into Our Care,' ensures that no child arrives in care with nothing of their own.

The idea came to Nicola after she was deeply moved by a young girl entering care with no personal belongings. 'We need to get this right for our children,' Nicola said. 'It's such a traumatic thing for children going into care, and the aim is that these packs help them feel safer and more secure.

Since January, 50 children going into care have received these welcome packs. Each box contains not just comforting items but also practical information-contact numbers, details about social workers and guardians, and notepads and pens. Local businesses like The Works have donated items to help the initiative grow and continue supporting children across Oldham.

Councillor Shaid Mushtaq, Oldham's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, praised the simple yet powerful idea. 'This is such a simple idea, and it's already changing children's experiences of going into care in the most powerful way,' he said. 'When a child enters care, it can be incredibly overwhelming for them-and Nicola has found a way to bring comfort, dignity and reassurance right when it's needed most.

Nicola's dedication doesn't stop at packing boxes. In May, she and eight colleagues will take on the Great Manchester Run 10K to raise more funds for filling the boxes. The care packs show every child that they matter, that they are valued, and that Oldham is here to support them during one of the most difficult moments in their young lives.