IN-CARE youngsters will have their upbringings bolstered by the support of two care leavers with lived experience as part of a trailblazing new scheme.

Serena Waite and Maddie Micklethwaite, both 23, recently began their roles and vowed to use their personal experiences of the local care system to support the council’s ambition to co-produce services with young people rather than for them.

They will also help raise awareness across the council of the challenges faced by care leavers, while highlighting what works well and where improvements can be made.

Carly Speechley, executive director for children’s services, said: “We’ve strengthened our commitment to children in care and care leavers by appointing two new care-experienced ambassadors who will help influence council services, challenge barriers and represent the voices of care experienced young people.

“As a council we are proud to act as corporate parents to children in care and care leavers across Barnsley.

“Our ambassadors will play a vital role in making sure lived experience is at the centre of what we do.

“Their insight helps us challenge ourselves, improve our services and ensure young people are genuinely listened to.”

As part of the council’s care sufficiency strategy, which will remain in place until 2030, the service will be reviewed annual to keep it in line with service users’ needs.

Serena and Maddie added: “We’ve been really busy so far, but it’s been a good start.

“We’ve delivered a presentation at the independent reviewing officer and discussed how we can be involved in the work they do.

“We’re also interested in working with social workers to give advice on further strengthening relationships with care-experienced children.

“We’ve been through that and will be able to bring our personal understanding to advise and influence council services on how to talk to care experienced young people.”