In collaboration with Become and Amplify Us, this episode dives into the real experiences of young people leaving the care system—and what needs to change to support them better.

Hosts Humerah and Roselyn are joined by fellow campaigners Georgia, G, Kane & Charlotte, who share powerful stories of navigating housing insecurity, pursuing education, and facing systemic barriers—all while advocating for a more supportive transition out of care.

We also hear from Jo Petty, Campaigns and Participation Manager at Become, who explains the goals of the #EndTheCareCliff campaign. The campaign calls for:

• A fully funded opt-out system for Staying Put and Staying Close up to age 25

• Legal changes to homelessness legislation, including exempting care leavers from local area connection rules and intentionality assessments

• Guaranteed access to rent deposit schemes and guarantors from local authorities
  

From policy wins—like commitments to end the local area connection test—to the personal victories of reclaiming voice and agency, this episode is a must-listen for anyone who cares about equity, youth rights, and the power of lived experience.

Key Topics Discussed

• The Care Cliff: What it means to suddenly lose support at 18

• Housing & Homelessness: Why care leavers face unique challenges securing safe, stable accommodation

• Policy & Campaigning: Demands for Staying Put, Staying Close, and legal reform

• Guarantor Inequality: How financial independence is weaponised against care leavers

• Trauma and Self-Discovery: Using lived experience as a platform for advocacy

• National vs Local Offers: The postcode lottery of care support

• Hope & Community: How campaigning builds strength, identity, and solidarity

Why You Should Listen

• Unfiltered Realities: Hear directly from care leavers on how systems fail—and how they fight back.

• Inspiring Resilience: Discover how young people turn hardship into power and policy change.

• Fuel for Change: Whether you’re in care, work in policy, or want to better support young people, this episode will deepen your understanding and spark action.

Support the podcast: Like, share, and follow to help raise underrepresented voices and make lasting change.

Further information and Resources

Become is the national charity that’s here to support every child and young person with experience of the care system. They tell us what’s not working. Together, we fight to make change happen.

Our work with care-experienced young people gives them the support and stability they need to smash their goals. But it’s equally important we keep pushing, to change the system altogether.

We raise awareness of the problems in the care system, and we campaign for change. Our work has resulted in some improvements for care-experienced young people. But there’s so much more to be done. We amplify young people’s voices so the public – and people in power – can see the real problems. Then, together, we show them what the system could look like.

To learn more, visit becomecharity.org.uk

Our Care Advice Service is here to support you during your time in care, and after you’ve left care

Call: 0800 023 2033

Email: advice@becomecharity.org.uk

Whatsapp us on 0786 003 4982

Amplify Us empowers and raises the voices of young people and those from underrepresented communities through podcasting and other creative platforms. Through engaging in our workshops and producing content, participants develop skills and confidence and create peer and community networks.

In this special episode of Amplify Us, we’re joined by Kismet, Vee and Li, three care-experienced young women involved with The Verbatim Formula – a powerful project founded by Maggie Inchley and Sylvan Baker. Together, they explore how creativity, storytelling, and community help shape new ways of thinking about experiences of care.

The conversation dives into personal stories of empowerment, the importance of safe spaces, and the role of the arts in challenging societal perceptions. Through poetry, performance, and advocacy, our guests share how creative expression offers a space for connection, healing, and real change.

🎧 In this episode:

• The power of storytelling through verbatim performance

• Why safe, supportive spaces matter

• Creative expression as a means of reclaiming identity

• Using lived experience to influence policy and understanding

Thanks to Devantai for the music and to People's Palace Projects and Queen Mary's University and the rest of the TVF team:

Benjamin Treloar, Claudius Hettori-Kwosah, Darcey Williamson, Devantai Page, Eileenamina, Iliane Rodrigues, Imran Quayes, Isabelle Kirkham, Kismet Meyon, Magali Hochberg, Maggie Inchley, Sylvan Baker, Victoria Odude.

@maggieInchley

@darceybw

@spongeebooobb

@k.i.z.z.i

@iqvisuals_

@queenv_no.1

@benjamintreloar

@djpxprod

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

🔗 Links:

• The Verbatim Formula – National Theatre

• Coram Voice

• The Foundling Museum

• • Raphael’s Room (@raphaelsroom) • Instagram photos and videos
  • https://peoplespalaceprojects.org.uk/en/

  
  

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